A federal judge has imposed $86,000 in fines and multi‑year license suspensions on two men for a cross‑state deer‑hunting scheme that violated the Lacey Act.
Key points
- The Lacey Act allows federal authorities to impose steep fines and license suspensions for illegal wildlife trafficking across state lines.
- Guided hunts require proper licensing; advertising unlicensed hunts can trigger federal prosecution.
- Collaboration among federal and state wildlife agencies was key to uncovering and prosecuting the illegal deer‑hunting operation.
A federal judge in the Western District of Tennessee ordered Austin Elrod, 30, of Somerville, to surrender his hunting license for five years and to pay $60,000 in fines and restitution after an investigation uncovered an illegal deer‑hunting operation that spanned the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
Elrod advertised guided white‑tailed‑deer hunts on Facebook without holding the required guiding license, leading to the illegal harvest of seven deer in Fayette County, a designated Chronic Wasting Disease zone. Several of the clients were out‑of‑state hunters, including Thomas Boswell, 39, of Barnesville, Georgia, who participated without a Tennessee hunting license and was linked to five of the harvested deer that were later transported to Georgia.
Federal Charges Under the Lacey Act
Both men were charged with violating the Lacey Act, a federal conservation statute that prohibits the interstate trafficking of wildlife taken illegally. At sentencing on October 21, 2026, Senior U.S. District Judge J. Daniel Breen placed Elrod on one year of probation, ordered a $40,000 fine and $20,000 restitution, and suspended his hunting privileges for five years. Boswell, sentenced earlier in July 2026, received a $15,000 fine, $11,000 restitution and an 18‑month suspension of his hunting privileges.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant emphasized the office’s willingness to pursue federal violations wherever they occur in the Western District of Tennessee, praising the “diligent and thorough work” of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service added that strong partnerships with state counterparts are essential to holding violators accountable and protecting wildlife for future generations.
Sentencing Details for Elrod and Boswell
The case was investigated jointly by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Immanuel Chioco prosecuting on behalf of the government.
Reader questions
What is the Lacey Act?
The Lacey Act is a federal law that prohibits the import, export, transport, sale, receipt, or purchase of wildlife taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any U.S. or foreign law.
What penalties can be imposed for violating the Lacey Act?
Violators can face criminal fines, restitution, probation, and suspension of hunting or fishing privileges, as demonstrated by the $86,000 in fines and license suspensions ordered in this case.
How can the public report suspected illegal hunting activity?
Individuals can contact their state wildlife agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or local law‑enforcement authorities to report suspected violations.
Source: newschannel9.com