Guilty Plea to Federal Wildlife Violations
Posted/updated on: June 11, 2013 at 4:53 pm
TYLER — In an appearance in Tyler federal court, a Shreveport, Louisiana, man has pleaded guilty to federal wildlife violations. Stephen Anderson Sipes, Jr., 57, pleaded guilty Monday to an Information charging him with negligent transportation of wildlife when he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. Sipes faces up to one year in federal prison at sentencing. Sipes has agreed to pay restitution of $14,016.49 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. A sentencing date has not been set.
According to federal prosecutors, on January 14, 2010, Sipes possessed and transported 14 illegally imported live whitetail deer valued at over $350.00 each. Sipes, who had an ownership interest in a high-fence ranch in Sanderson, Texas, transported the deer from Carthage, Missouri, against Texas law. The fair market value of the illegally imported whitetail deer was approximately $5,650.00.
