Unconfirmed reports saying Jay St. Goddard, Jay Wells and Gayle Skunkcap, who pled guilty to violating the Lacey Act (illegal sale of tribal wildlife) and theft from a tribal government receiving federal funding, have been sentenced to three years probation. In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carl E. Rostad and Ryan G. Weldon, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following: All wildlife on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation is owned by the Blackfeet Indian Tribe. In managing such wildlife, hunting is allowed. Hunting by non-members on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation is a highly regulated activity. The 2010 and 2011, Blackfeet Regulations set forth the number of tags that may be given to non-members and the price of payment required for each tag. These tags are required, are limited in number, and are highly lucrative. There are only between five and 10 hunting licenses for each big-game species available to non-tribal members each year, with each license costing between $1,500 and $12,000, depending on the animal. Skunkcap, Jr. was the director of the Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department, and St. Goddard and Wells were Tribal councilmen on the Blackfeet Tribal Business Council. In 2010 and 2011, the Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department received federal funding in excess of $220,000 each year. Between 2010 and 2011, Skunkcap, St. Goddard, and Wells held four big-game hunts for country musicians participating in an outdoors television show on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation without obtaining the limited and expensive hunting licenses for non-tribal members to shoot elk, moose, deer, and a black bear. They also used tribal funds and personnel to outfit and guide the musicians, television show hosts, and a fly fishing expert. They faced the possibility of penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release. It is unclear whether there is a fine in conjunction with the probation period and whether the crime is considered a felony or misdemeanor. KBWG Facebook News will share more information as it becomes available. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Blackfeet Internal Affairs Office.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 03:43:30 +0000
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