TYLER, Texas - A 57-year-old Shreveport, LA, man has pleaded guilty to federal wildlife violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Stephen Anderson Sipes, Jr., pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with negligent transportation of wildlife today before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
According to information presented in court, on Jan. 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.
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.
This case was investigated by the Special Operations Unit of the Texas Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
