Bangor, Maine: United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Mark Elkhorn, 58, of York, Maine pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to making false statements to a federal law enforcement agent.
According to court records, in October of 2015, an individual provided information to law enforcement regarding Elkhorn unlawfully trapping animals on Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the matter. Based upon evidence obtained during the investigation, including evidence obtained during the execution of a federal search warrant, Elkhorn was charged with multiple misdemeanors in Maine state court and was issued a federal citation.
On Dec. 11, 2016, Elkhorn sent a threatening text message from his cellular telephone to the individual who provided information to law enforcement about Elkhorn’s unlawful trapping activity. On January 6, 2017, in York, Maine, Elkhorn made false statements to a Federal Wildlife Officer about his involvement in the threatening text messages.
Elkhorn faces a maximum of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and that Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
