An 81-year-old Montana man, Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, has been sentenced to six months in prison for creating hybrid sheep meant for hunting. He pleaded guilty to cloning and trafficking large species of Asian sheep and selling their DNA, violating the Lacey Act. Schubarth admitted to getting carried away with his passion for the project, leading him to break the law.
From 2013 to 2021, Schubarth created a hybrid sheep called the “Montana Mountain King” by cloning parts of the Marco Polo argali sheep illegally imported from Kyrgyzstan. He was cooperative in the investigation, which resulted in a lighter sentence than the maximum allowed. In addition to prison time, he was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and $4,000 to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation.
Jesse Laslovich, the US Attorney for the District of Montana, stated that Schubarth’s actions threatened Montana’s native wildlife population and were driven by greed. The Lacey Act prohibits the trafficking of wildlife through interstate commerce in violation of federal law. Despite Schubarth’s remorse, his illegal conduct had a significant impact on his family and the environment.
Authorities praised the collaboration and diligence of law enforcement partners in bringing Schubarth to justice. The case serves as a reminder of the consequences of exploiting wildlife for financial gain and the importance of upholding laws to protect natural resources.
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