TEXARKANA, Texas - A 46-year-old Bogata, Texas man has been sentenced for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.
John Purviance pleaded guilty on Feb. 6, 2017 to unlawful use of a pesticide and unlawful taking of migratory birds and was sentenced to two years of federal probation today by U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline M. Craven.
According to information presented in court, on April 9, 2016, Purviance mixed a restricted-use pesticide with corn syrup and then spread the mixture along a tree line of a ranch in Bowie County with the intent to poison and kill feral hogs. Although feral hogs were among the animals that died from consuming the poison, other animals also died, including blackbirds, cardinals, and at least one vulture, which are all migratory birds and protected by federal statute. Purviance was also fined $2,375 and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,198.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Criminal Investigation Division, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Texas Department of Agriculture and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
