ELY, Nev. (KOLO) – Two Utah residents have been found guilty of residency fraud and illegal hunting in connection with the illegal harvest of a mule deer near the Utah/Nevada border.
Neither suspect was identified by the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
In December of 2022, officers with the Utah Division of Natural Resources handed over a tip to the Nevada Department of Wildlife about a Utah resident who had allegedly harvested a large mule deer using a fraudulent hunting tag.
Investigators determined the suspect had been a Utah resident for more than three years and were thus ineligible to use the tag.
“Residency fraud is becoming a real problem,” said John Anderson, Game Warden Lieutenant for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. “In the past, we might see just a handful of these types of cases, but in the last few years that number has grown to a point where our game wardens are spending quite a bit of time investigating residency fraud. That’s valuable time where they could be in the field protecting the states resources.”
Authorities were able to uncover the fraudulent application and tag purchases were coordinated by the individual’s spouse, who completed applications and license applications under false pretenses. Both were subsequently charged with felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor wildlife violations.
The primary suspect pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting unlawful possession, resulting in a five year suspension of their hunting license. They also received a suspended jail sentence of 60 days, a 12-month probation period, and a combined loss of 36 hunting bonus points.
Both suspects were also ordered to pay $5,000 in fines.
The second suspect was convicted of a misdemeanor, resulting in license suspension, and fines exceeding $600.
“This case could not have been solved without the crucial collaboration between NDOW and Utah DNR,” said Lieutenant Anderson. This case exemplifies the importance of interagency partnerships in protecting wildlife and enforcing conservation laws.”
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