Timothy Rawlings, a 56-year-old resident of Laveen, Arizona, has been sentenced to twelve months in federal prison for conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. In addition to his prison term, Rawlings received three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $45,800 in restitution. His codefendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel of Baca County, Colorado, previously received a sentence of three years’ probation, $9,164 in restitution, and a $2,000 fine.
The Lacey Act is a federal law enacted 125 years ago that prohibits wildlife violations crossing state or international borders. According to the plea agreement, Rawlings operated Old West Guides and Outfitters in Arizona and provided outfitting and hunting services for big game animals such as deer, elk, mountain lions, and bears. However, his company did not have the required license to offer these services in Colorado.
Rawlings paid Rodarmel to provide unlicensed guiding services in Baca County. The plea agreement details that Rawlings knowingly broke several hunting regulations including shooting from vehicles, chasing animals with vehicles, hunting on lands without proper licenses or permits, and failing to register hunted animals like mountain lions as mandated by Colorado law. During the investigation led by federal authorities and Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials, Rawlings also guided undercover agents on an illegal hunt where he committed additional violations.
Authorities said that most clients were from outside Colorado and that illegally hunted animals would likely be transported across state lines—an action specifically prohibited under the Lacey Act.
“Operating without proper licensing undermines wildlife conservation efforts and the integrity of our state’s hunting regulations,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit by skirting the laws that protect Colorado’s natural resources and ensure fair access for all.”
“This was not a momentary lapse in judgment or isolated violation,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “For several years, Rawlings and his associates systematically violated Colorado’s hunting and guiding regulations, orchestrating illegal hunts, and facilitating the unlawful take, transport, and sale of big game across state lines for monetary financial gain. Their actions stripped wildlife from our landscapes and betrayed the foundational principles of ethical hunting. Violations like these erode public trust in licensed guides, undermine decades of conservation progress, and tarnish the legacy of fair-chase hunting that ethical sportsmen and women work hard to preserve. The Service is committed to working with our partners in Colorado to ensure that those who break the law are held accountable and that we protect the integrity of our natural resources.”
United States District Judge S. Kato Crews presided over sentencing in this case (24-cr-00117-SKC). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kurt Bohn following an investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service alongside Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
