U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert | U.S. Department of Justice
Jason Keith Bruce, a 51-year-old resident of Galt, has admitted to conspiring to smuggle an endangered Ladakh urial trophy into the United States. This announcement was made by United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
The Ladakh urial is a species of wild sheep found in the mountainous regions of Ladakh, spanning parts of India and Pakistan. According to court documents, Bruce, who engaged in big game hunting as a hobby, collaborated with Pir Danish Ali, a 45-year-old from Pakistan and CEO of a hunting outfitter and guide company based there. Bruce hunted under Pir's guidance and together they planned to hunt an endangered Ladakh urial in Pakistan. They then attempted to smuggle the trophy into the U.S. in 2018 by misrepresenting it as another species to Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service using forged documents allegedly issued by Pakistani authorities.
After the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service detained the trophy, both Bruce and Pir agreed to provide false information to officials. Further investigation uncovered that many other hunters associated with Pir’s company used fraudulent documents for importing trophies into the United States. At least 97 trophies were identified as having been brought into the country using fake documentation between 2013 and 2018 by at least 25 hunters who worked with Pir's company.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine T. Lydon and Whitnee Goins handling prosecution duties.
Bruce is set for sentencing on May 20, 2025, before U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez where he could face up to five years in prison along with a $250,000 fine; however, his actual sentence will be determined based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines which consider various elements.
It should be noted that charges against Pir are currently allegations; he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
