Crime – Page 2 – Syndication Server

‘Careless’ coyote hunter cited after accidentally shooting partner

A 70-year-old hunter was hospitalized in Colorado after one of his partners shot him while swinging his shotgun toward a coyote.

A 70-year-old hunter was hospitalized in Colorado on Thursday after one of his partners accidentally shot him instead of the coyote they were pursuing.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated in a news release that three hunters, all from Iowa, took aim at a coyote that appeared 50 feet in front of them in Baca County.

One man fired first, and missed the coyote. He then swung his shotgun and fired again, hitting his 70-year-old partner.

“This is a classic example of failure to maintain ‘zone of fire’ awareness,” said Todd Marriott, CPW area wildlife manager based in Lamar. “Hunters must always know where their target is and where the rest of their party is at all times.”

The unidentified victim was hospitalized in Colorado Springs and released after being treated for pellet wounds.

The shooter was identified as Matthew Mullenix, 48, of Urbandale, Iowa. He was charged with careless hunting, an unclassified misdemeanor, and will be fined up to $1,000.

–Coyote image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tavistock owner Joe Lewis, who developed Isleworth and Lake Nona, pleads guilty to securities fraud scheme

The beneficiaries of the non-public information sharing reaped millions of dollars in gains, according to the filing.

British multi-billionaire Joe Lewis – principal owner of Tavistock Group, the developer and owner of several elite golf courses in Florida and the Bahamas – pled guilty Wednesday to charges of a securities fraud scheme in federal court in Manhattan.

Prosecutors had charged Lewis, 86, with sharing insider information about the dealings of companies in which he was a large investor. Those who benefitted from the illegal information sharing included personal acquaintances such as romantic partners, assistants, friends and his pilots, according to an original filing by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York. The beneficiaries of the non-public information sharing reaped millions of dollars in gains, according to the filing.

Tavistock Group developed several notable golf properties, including Isleworth Golf and Country Club in Orlando and the nearby Lake Nona Golf and Country Club. Many notable golf professionals live at these Central Florida properties, and past residents include Tiger Woods – it was at Isleworth where Woods in 2009 famously crashed into a fire hydrant, landing him in a nearby emergency room.

The company operated the Tavistock Cup from 2004 to 2013, with PGA Tour and LPGA stars from the company’s courses competing in a team event. Besides Isleworth and Lake Nona, that event grew to include the company’s Albany property in the Bahamas and several other clubs not developed by Tavistock.

In all, the Bahamas-based holding company has investments in more than 200 companies, including the soccer club Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League. Tavistock Group reports on its website that it’s focused primarily on real estate, hospitality, agriculture and financial services.

After initially denying any wrongdoing six months ago, Lewis pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison, and two counts of securities fraud, which each carry a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison. His acceptance of a plea deal will shorten his potential time behind bars.

As part of the plea deal, Lewis and his company Broad Bay Ltd. will pay $50 million in financial penalties. Lewis also faces federal sentencing guidelines of 18-24 months in prison, but the judge can reduce that sentence. A sentencing date has not been selected. Lewis also must relinquish any board seats he held in publicly traded companies in the U.S.

“I knew that I was violating a legal duty not to make those recommendations because the nonpublic information had been entrusted to me in confidence,” he said according to an Associated Press report. “I knew at the time what I was doing was wrong, and I am so embarrassed and I apologize to the court for my conduct.”

Prosecutors wrote that in addition to the insider trading, Broad Bay Ltd. and other corporate entities under the direction and control of Lewis engaged in a scheme to hide his ownership and control shares of a pharmaceutical company through a pattern of false filings and misleading statements.

“Today’s guilty pleas once again confirm – as I said in announcing the charges against Joseph Lewis just six months ago – the law applies to everyone, no matter who you are or how much wealth you have,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “Billionaire Lewis abused inside information he gained through his access to corporate boardrooms to tip off his friends, employees and romantic interests. Now, he will pay the price with a federal conviction, the prospect of time in prison and the largest financial penalty for insider trading in a decade.”

Spearfisherman fined for killing 40-year-old Gus, an iconic blue fish

A man in Australia is being harshly criticized by the locals for killing a beloved blue grouper, a fish that had been protected since 1996.

A spearfisherman in Australia is being harshly criticized by the locals for killing Gus the Grouper, a beloved 40-year-old blue fish that had been protected since 1996.

On December 30, a 26-year-old man from New Zealand was spearfishing at Old Park in Cronulla, a suburb of Sydney, and speared the iconic fish, doing so in a no-spearfishing zone, as reported by NZHerald.co.nz and News.com. au.

The blue grouper, known for being non-aggressive and inquisitive, became the official fish of New South Wales in 1996, when it became protected from spearfishing and commercial enterprise.

Tenielle Piek, a local woman, told News.com.au that the “gorgeous bright blue fish” is well known to other divers and swimmers in the area. Piek’s family had swum with Gus for 30 years. She witnessed the incident.

“The man pulled the grouper out of the water triumphantly,” she said. “Locals were shocked and outraged … My mother was the first person to approach the man requesting to take his photo. He smiled and showed off his killing without realizing it was a protected species and could be fined up to $11,000 for spearing a blue grouper.”

The spearfisherman was ultimately fined $537 after being questioned by police.

“Gus, you were more than just a diving buddy,” Abyss Scuba Diving wrote on Facebook. “You were a true companion, joining me on countless dives at Oak Park, Cronulla. Your untimely demise on December 30, 2023, at the hands of a spearfisherman has left us devastated.”

Boy, 11, helps Oregon troopers nab deer poacher

The boy was home sick from school when he witnessed the unlawful killing of a deer on private property.

An 11-year-old Oregon boy has been rewarded $1,000 for providing a tip that led to the arrest of a deer poacher.

The Oregon State Police explained in a news release that the boy, Gage, witnessed the unlawful killing and retrieval of a deer on private property.

Gage was home from school with an illness at the time. He reported the incident via the state’s Turn in Poachers (TIP) hotline.

The reward came from the Oregon Hunters Association and Gage told OSP troopers that he was considering using some of the money to purchase gaming goggles.

–Image courtesy of the Oregon State Police

Hunter who bagged potential record deer under investigation

Christopher J. Alexander, who gained notoriety after killing the buck during archery season, is facing poaching allegations.

An Ohio hunter who gained notoriety after killing a potential record white-tailed deer last month during archery season is at the center of a poaching investigation.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources on Tuesday confirmed that its Division of Wildlife is investigating allegations that Christopher J. Alexander, 28, of Wilmington, failed to obtain written permission from the owner of the private land on which the deer was harvested.

“While the investigation continues, Ohio wildlife officers have seized the antlers, cape, and hunting equipment associated with the alleged unlawful taking of the deer,” the DNR stated in a news release.

According to Outdoor Life, hunters on social-media forums had expressed suspicion that the deer might have been harvested illegally at night, since published photos showing Alexander posing with the buck were taken after dark.

Alexander’s explanation, according to Outdoor Life, was that the deer was harvested during legal hours but the photos were taken later, after a friend’s girlfriend arrived with a camera.

The DNR did not mention allegations of after-hours hunting.

The agency stated, simply, that the investigation was launched “after information was provided alleging that Alexander failed to obtain the lawfully required written permission prior to hunting on private property.”

Outdoor Life, citing an expert, reported that the buck warranted a “green score” of 206 7 / 8 inches.

“With that preliminary score,” the publication continued, “the buck would have the potential to be the number one typical whitetail taken in the state of Ohio, and the number three typical whitetail taken in North America.”

Alexander faces a significant fine, at the least, if he’s found guilty of illegally harvesting the buck.

–Generic white-tailed deer image courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Angler helps save bald eagle after it had been ‘senselessly’ shot

The eagle, shot in eastern Tennessee, is recovering at the Memphis Zoo. A $10,000 reward is being offered as authorities seek to identify and prosecute the shooter.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of the person who shot a federally protected bald eagle recently in eastern Tennessee.

The wounded eagle was discovered by a fisherman near Watts Bar Lake in Kingston. The angler contacted the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, which transported the raptor to the Memphis Zoo.

The eagle is recovering and a bullet retrieved from the bird has been sent to a lab for ballistics testing.

The Center for Biological Diversity issued a news release Monday, stating that it has added $7,500 to the $2,500 reward being offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The senseless and illegal shooting of this majestic bird is outrageous, and we want the perpetrator brought to justice,” said Will Harlan, a senior scientist at the Center. “This cowardly act against America’s national bird can’t go unpunished. We hope someone steps forward with information.”

Anyone with potentially helpful information is asked to call the USFWS at (615) 736-5532 or the TWRA at (931) 484-9571.

–Generic bald eagle image courtesy of ©Pete Thomas

Bears, wolf and bighorn sheep poached in same Oregon county

Authorities in Oregon are investigating recent poaching incidents involving black bear cubs, a gray wolf, and a bighorn sheep.

Each incident occurred in Baker County during the last week of November, and in each case the animals were killed unlawfully and left to waste.

It was not known if a single poacher was responsible.

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division stated in a news release that on Nov. 27 two bear cubs were found dead off USFS 77 Road inside the Keating Wildlife Management Unit.

Both animals had been shot.

On the same day, Fish & Wildlife troopers, acting on a tip, found a wolf carcass near Sparta Road, also within the Keating Wildlife Management Unit.

On Nov. 30, a trooper responded to the discovery of a bighorn sheep ram that had been shot and left – without its head and horns – near Hubbard Creek Road within the Lookout Mountain Wildlife Management Unit.

The Lookout Wildlife Management Unit is directly below the Keating Wildlife Management Unit.

The Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible for the unlawful killings.

The agency’s tip lines are 800-452-7888 or *OSP (for mobile phone users). Rewards are being offered in each case.

Montana boosts reward in wolverine poaching case

Montana authorities are hoping that an increased reward will help them catch the person who killed one of the state’s rarest animals.

Montana authorities are hoping that an increased reward will lead to the identification of the person who killed a protected wolverine – one of the state’s rare animals.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced last week that the wolverine carcass was discovered Nov. 10 on a U.S. Forest Service Road northwest of Wisdom.

The animal had been shot, skinned, and left to waste.

On Monday the Center for Biodiversity announced that it had helped the state increase the reward “for information leading to a successful prosecution” from $1,000 to $11,000.

“The wolverine was shot dead and skinned along a closed U.S. Forest Service road on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest,” the Center for Biodiversity stated via social media. “Scientists estimate wolverine populations in the lower 48 may be fewer than 300 animals, making this death significant.”

The elusive mammals inhabit mostly remote, high-altitude terrain and encounters with humans are rare.

ESPN previews upcoming ‘ChiefsAholic’ documentary

ESPN previewed its upcoming “ChiefsAholic” documentary, which will premiere on November 20.

The Kansas City Chiefs have a rabid fan base, but one wolf-mask-wearing devotee rose to prominence earlier this year for all the wrong reasons.

Known as “ChiefsAholic,” superfan Xaviar Babudar dominated headlines in the late summer for allegedly robbing banks. His story spread like wildfire on social media after his well-known Twitter account went silent.

A wolf in Chiefs clothing…#SCFeatured reveals the shocking saga of #ChiefsKingdom superfan Xaviar Babudar whose alleged actions took a criminal turn

🐺 'Where Wolf: The Search for ChiefsAholic'
Premieres Monday | Exclusively on @ESPNPlus

More: https://t.co/eg6XG0cYPB pic.twitter.com/ueCNFF8tUU

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) November 16, 2023

ESPN has picked up the story and will run a feature program on the search for ChiefsAholic, which is sure to make for must-watch content as Kansas City prepares for its matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football.

If the purported facts surrounding ChiefsAholic have taught fans anything about Babudar’s story, it would be that the only thing to expect is the unexpected.

The bizarre situation surrounding the well-known superfan will have its long-form big-screen debut on Monday, November 20. Fans should get their popcorn ready and prepare for stories that range from strange to unbelievable.

Poacher kills one of Montana’s rarest critters; probe launched

Authorities in Montana are seeking public assistance in identifying the person responsible for the illegal killing of a wolverine.

Authorities in Montana are seeking public assistance in identifying the person responsible for illegally killing a wolverine.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks on Thursday said the wolverine carcass was discovered Nov. 10 on U.S. Forest Service Road 7377, northwest of Wisdom.

The animal had been shot, skinned, and left to rot.

Wolverines, described by Fish, Wildlife & Parks as “one of Montana’s rarest animals,” are protected and cannot be legally hunted or trapped.

The stout mammals, which inhabit mostly remote, high-altitude regions of Alaska, Canada, and the northwest continental U.S., are elusive and encounters are rare.

Their populations and movements are poorly understood, but studies have shown that they roam long distances while expanding home ranges.

Wolverines are almost bear-like in appearance and can be ferocious. Fish, Wildlife & Parks states on its website: “Some describe a wolverine as an animal with a thousand pounds of attitude in a 30-pound body.”

According to the National Wildlife Federation, resident populations exist in Alaska, Canada and Russia, as well as Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and a small portion of Oregon.

A wolverine sighting in Yellowstone National Park early last March generated lots of excitement because sightings in the park are so rare.

Wisdom is located about 200 miles northwest of Yellowstone.

–Generic wolverine images courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks