DAVID SCHRAGE PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIPLE WILDLIFE VIOLATIONS OCCURRING IN COLORADO AND MISSOURI
DAVID SCHRAGE PLEADS GUILTY TO MULTIPLE WILDLIFE VIOLATIONS OCCURRING IN COLORADO AND MISSOURI
St. Louis, Missouri: David Schrage pled guilty to multiple violations involving hunting activities in Colorado and Missouri, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced today.
“This case is a perfect example of the superlative work that results when many law enforcement agencies combine their talents to address a multi-state case. I want to commend the Colorado Division of Wildlife, who initiated the investigation of the case, and the Missouri Department of Conservation Northeast Regional Office, who joined in the Missouri investigation and arrests,” said Hanaway. Their coordinated efforts brought a success conclusion to this illegal activity.”
“This case is a perfect example of why the federal Lacey Act was created,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Region Special Agent in Charge Mary Jane Lavin. “What we have here is a person who was a habitual poacher and managed to keep out of the reach of state conservation officers by moving across states lines. Thanks to the cooperative relationship we have with both Colorado and Missouri conservation officers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was able to document his crimes in both states and have a federal search warrant issued.”
David Schrage, 52, Hurdland, Missouri, pled guilty to one felony violation of the Lacey Act, for selling wildlife that was taken, possessed and transported in violation of Missouri law. Schrage charged customers money and supplied a turkey and deer hunt on his property in 2006 that included baiting the hunting sites. Schrage also pled guilty to one misdemeanor violation of the Lacey Act, for illegally hunting elk and transporting the elk from Colorado to Missouri. On November 1, 2006, Special Agents from the Fish & Wildlife Service, Missouri Conservation Agents, and Investigators from the Colorado Division of Wildlife executed a federal search warrant on the Schrage property. The Special Agents recovered a number of elk parts from prior illegal hunts by Schrage in Colorado.
As part of his plea, Schrage has agreed to the forfeiture of his bow, shotgun, feeders, two ATVs, and agrees to pay a $20,000 fine.
In addition to the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Missouri Conservation Departments, this case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Assistant United States Attorney Ray Meyer handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
