Former Ohio wildlife officer convicted of trafficking in white-tailed deer

WASHINGTON — Allan Wright, 45, of Russellville, Ohio, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Cincinnati to violating the Lacey Act by trafficking in and making false records for illegally harvested white-tailed deer, the Department of Justice announced.

Wright committed the crimes while he was employed as a wildlife officer for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Wright’s employment as a wildlife officer was terminated after he was indicted in August 2011. As part of his plea agreement, Wright has agreed not to appeal his termination.

Among other things, the Lacey Act makes it a crime for a person to knowingly transport or sell wildlife in interstate commerce when the wildlife was taken or possessed in violation of state law.

The Lacey Act also makes it a crime for a person to knowingly make or submit a false record, account or label for wildlife that has been transported in interstate commerce. Wright pleaded guilty to a total of four Lacey Act crimes based on his conduct between 2006 and 2010.