August 18, 2011
By Clair Johnson, BillingsGazette.com
Two Oregon men admitted Thursday to federal wildlife violations for bringing other Oregon clients to hunt big game illegally on a Park County ranch.
Richard “Dick” Weiner, 71, and his son, Richard “Matt” Weiner, 42, both of Salem, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. Matt Weiner also pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor violations of the act for transporting illegally taken wildlife.
The Lacey Act regulates the interstate sale, transportation and purchase of wildlife.
The Weiners appeared before U.S Magistrate Judge Carolyn Ostby in Billings.
Plea agreements call for Dick Weiner to pay a $50,000 fine and be sentenced to three years of probation, and for Matt Weiner to pay a $25,000 fine, be sentenced to three years of probation and to forfeit a Winchester rifle. The Weiners also agreed to pay $20,000 in restitution to the state.
The Weiners face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine on the conspiracy count.