VENTURA : Illegal Commerce in Birds Charged
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A Ventura taxidermist has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles on charges of unauthorized sale or purchase of migratory birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
The grand jury returned an indictment March 12, charging Greg Heil of Ventura with selling protected migratory ducks and geese, said Asst. U.S. Atty. Sally L. Meloch.
Meloch said Heil faces five charges of selling migratory birds, including a Drake canvasback duck, widgeon ducks, teal ducks and a mallard duck.
The maximum penalty under federal law for each offense of selling migratory birds is two years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The indictment stems from a 2 1/2-year investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of at least two dozen individuals suspected of killing wildlife and transporting heads, hides and other animal parts for the purpose of illegal commercial resale, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
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