Branden Trager, the owner of Mayhem Services LLC, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to charges related to the illegal transportation of wildlife across state and international borders. This admission comes after the company was found to have violated the Lacey Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act during a hunting trip in January 2023, where illegally taken birds were transported from Washington.
Trager also confessed to leading guided hunting trips for harlequin ducks in British Columbia in 2022, despite restrictions on his ability to act as a guide there. The violations carry potential fines of $100,000 for Trager and $75,000 for the company, emphasizing the ongoing enforcement of wildlife protection laws designed to ensure sustainable populations of migratory birds. Sentencing is set for October 16, with both Trager and his company required to publicly promote awareness of hunting and wildlife regulations.
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