Unsuspecting Airline Passengers Reveal Smuggled Sea Turtle Skull, Other Wildlife Crimes to Plainclothes CDFW Wildlife Officers Leading to Prosecution, Fines and Forfeiture
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the settlement of an investigation involving the unlawful possession of a sea turtle skull, several mountain lions, a wolverine, a ringtail cat, owl parts and illegally harvested deer.
CDFW’s investigation was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and prosecuted by the Butte County and Napa County district attorney’s offices and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California resulting in guilty pleas, fines and probation for all involved suspects.
CDFW’s investigation began in November 2023 when two of its canine officers from the Northern Enforcement District were flying back to northern California from a training in San Diego.
The officers were dressed in plain clothes and seated in front of a couple who were discussing hunting. A conversation with the officers and the unsuspecting couple ensued that ultimately led to the couple disclosing that they were transporting a sea turtle skull from the East Coast in their luggage. The couple also discussed their unlawful take of a mountain lion, which is a specially protected species in California illegal to hunt or possess in whole or in part.
The couple then spoke openly about a close family member’s unlawful possession of multiple taxidermized mountain lions, a wolverine and wolves at the family member’s residence in Napa County. The couple then proceeded to share a video with the wildlife officers of the family member’s “trophy room” where the illegal mounts were displayed.
After deboarding the plane, the wildlife officers asked if the couple would show them the sea turtle skull. The suspects acknowledged the potential unlawful possession and waited until after any Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers could see before showing the officers the sea turtle skull concealed in a jacket inside their carry-on luggage. The skull belonged to a green sea turtle, a federally listed endangered species illegal to possess and transport.
Once back to their patrol districts, the wildlife officers authored search warrants for the couple’s residence in Chico and the family member’s residence in Napa County. The warrants were signed by judges in Butte and Napa counties.
In the process of serving the search warrant in Butte County, wildlife officers found the couple processing a deer that was taken illegally earlier in the day. Deer season was closed, and the suspects had no deer tags. Also inside the residence, wildlife officers found mountain lion claws, a ringtail cat, a barn owl mount, an illegal spike buck and several unlawfully taken deer with tagging violations.
Ringtail cats are a fully protected species in California. Mounted raptors and raptor parts are illegal to possess without appropriate state and federal permits.
At the family member’s residence in Napa County, meanwhile, wildlife officers discovered two illegal, full-bodied taxidermized mountain lions and one full-bodied taxidermized wolverine. Wolverines are another fully protected species in California illegal to possess.
All the unlawfully possessed animals and parts of unlawful animals were seized as evidence for the prosecution in Napa County, Butte County and in federal district court.
Formal complaints were filed against 24-year-old Byron Lee Fitzpatrick, 28-year-old Shannon Lee Price and 64-year-old Harry Vern Fitzpatrick by the Butte and Napa County district attorney’s offices, which initiated prosecution of the poaching crimes. The possession of the sea turtle skull, portions of deer parts and the owl violations were turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which assisted in the search warrants, investigation and prosecution.
A plea agreement was reached on Jan. 30, 2025, in Butte County. Byron Lee Fitzpatrick pled guilty to violating Fish and Game Code section 2000(a) and 2002, receiving a $1,865 fine and one-year probation prohibiting hunting or being around those engaged in hunting. Shannon Lee Price pled guilty to violating Fish and Game Code section 2002, receiving a $1,015 fine and one-year probation prohibiting hunting or being around those engaged in hunting. All wildlife seized was forfeited.
A plea agreement was reached on April 23, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Byron Lee Fitzpatrick and Shannon Lee Price were each fined $1,000 for violations of federal wildlife regulations and laws.
A plea agreement was reached on Feb. 15, 2024, in Napa County. Harry Vern Fitzpatrick pled guilty to two counts of Fish and Game Code section 4800(b), was fined $605, ordered to serve six-months probation and forfeited all unlawfully possessed and transported wildlife as a result of the convictions.
“This case exemplifies the unwavering preparedness and swift action demonstrated by our wildlife officers,” said CDFW Chief of Law Enforcement Nathanial Arnold. “It highlights a broad spectrum of natural resource violations and underscores the critical role our officers play in safeguarding our resources, not only here in California but elsewhere throughout the country and abroad. These violations encompass the take of deer out of season and the illegal possession of taxidermy, including endangered and protected species. Like human and narcotics trafficking, wildlife trafficking of both live animals and animal parts is known to fund transnational criminal organizations and their violent activities all over the world. The individuals involved exhibited a flagrant disregard for laws governing natural resources and are now being held accountable for their actions.”
CDFW is thankful for the support from the Butte and Napa County district attorney’s offices as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The investigation, which started as a casual conversation among airline passengers, led officers to serious violations of state and federal wildlife laws.
Anyone witnessing a poaching or polluting incident or any fish and wildlife violation or who has information about such a violation should immediately dial the toll-free CALTIP number, 1-888 334-CALTIP (888-334-2258), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
###
|
