Just posting link as an FYI - I don't know the parties or the situation/back story.

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ap-hunting-kansas

The above link is the full article, the first three paragraphs are:

WICHITA, Kan. (AP)—The Justice Department is targeting more than 60 hunters across the nation for allegedly poaching deer during guided hunts at Camp Lone Star in Kansas, a court document shows.

The scope of the grand jury investigation, believed to be one of the largest criminal prosecutions involving the illegal taking of deer, was made public in a court filing Monday in the federal government’s case against the camp’s owner and his brother, both of Martinsville, Texas.

James Bobby Butler Jr., 41, the owner and operator of the hunting club in Coldwater, Kan., and his brother Marlin Jackson Butler, 36, who worked as a guide, are charged with conspiracy and the unlawful sale and transport of wildlife. James Butler is also charged with obstruction of justice in the 23-count indictment filed May 25 in U.S. District Court in Wichita.

Shooting deer with a rifle during bow season and spotlighting deer? Hope they throw there butz in jail.

"Prosecutors allege that during the guided hunts the Butlers and others encouraged hunters to take deer illegally by hunting without a valid license. They’re also accused of letting hunters illegally spotlight deer during night hunts and use illegal equipment, such as firearms during archery season."

Good for the law. Get em.

The kind of individuals that give anti-hunters a field day at all of our expenses! Lock em' up, throw away the key!

x2

ruh roh, but man why do they have to be from the next town over!

You all have missed the point! The FEDS are prosecuting... not the state of Kansas! What gives the Feds jurisdiction involving state game laws?????? Holder ignores the Black Panthers intimidating voters, yet uses FEDERAL resources to prosecute state hunting laws! This is just another example of our Federal Government gone amuck!

they are involved because of reported violations of The Lacey Act.

Because it is Interstate, by crossing the state lines, thats why.

My guess is that since the crimes occurred in Kansas and the operators live in Texas, the Feds can get involved. But nice conspiracy theory.

I see your point, but they are charged with conspiracy (Lacey Act) violations, that is a Federal offense.

and can go ahead and disregard the "reported violations" part I mentioned. Feds usually aren't going to bring a case like this up unless it is one of the "open & shut" nature.

yep get a rope

How is that a conspiracy theory? I think beagler has a legitimate point.

How are the hunters involved with the Lacey Act violation? I can understand the owners, but not the hunters.

lacey act. Might take a look at it. Its pretty encompassing.

There is a line in the lacey act that i believe includes the word negligent blah blah bla. Has to do with transport of game. If you look at some of the africa game taken if it were found later to be killed in the wrong part of the country etc the hunter can be heald responsible. Even if he unknowingly took part in the act. Criminal charges for all of them especially if they new they were using rifles in bow season. If they can prove they didnt know then, looks like the hunter could be hit with civil charges.

the Lacey Act is almost a catch all

yep. I wish id never heard of it, cause now i keep seeing black helicopters following me around.

Hummmmmmmmmmmm

Thats crazy. I guess I can see why the feds are going after them. Ive never heard of the act until now, but wow, makes you think. Still surprising why the state isnt getting involved, but I just hope the allegations aren't true, or those hunters deserve whats coming.

The Federal charges will probably cost them more, and the Kansas still can go after them with state charges. This also would not be double jeopardy, the Federal charges are different than what the state can file.

This happens very often when local crimes involve many multiple suspects that live in different states.
Its very hard and extremely costly for a state agency to travel and interview those suspects in multiple states.

Also a daily occurence with federal felon possesion of a firearm charges that piggie back off local arrests.
Also commonly used when fugitives on state charges move or flee to other states. The US Marshalls service must file an interstate flight to avoid prosecution charge in order to help locate that fugitive.
Many local/ federal joint task forces exist in drug enforcement, terrorism, and fugitive units.

Shame, the boys lived in Martinsville Tx. about a mile from our Deer lease. Not nice people!