Post by Rtdcop on Jan 31, 2006 0:33:48 GMT 12.75
;D In October of 2004 My partner and I hunted Elk in Grants New Mexico with an Outfitter -- Non Typical Outfitters, Adrian and Henrietta Romero. To make a very long story short we were issued Counterfiet Licenses / Tags, which we brought to the NM authorities attention. As a result of this, the below is what happened ;D ;D
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004
Public contact: (505) 476-8000
dan.williams@state.nm.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JAN. 26, 2006:
COUPLE FACES RACKETEERING, FORGERY CHARGES IN ILLEGAL HUNTING CASE
GRANTS – A Marquez, N.M., husband-and-wife outfitting team was indicted by a Cibola County Grand Jury on Wednesday on 66 felony charges, including racketeering, forgery, fraud, tax evasion and embezzlement, in connection with an alleged operation in which counterfeit licenses for trophy elk hunts were sold to out-of-state hunters.
In one of the state's biggest cases of poaching and fraud, the Cibola County Grand Jury indicted Adrian Romero, 33, on 52 counts of felony charges. If convicted, he could face a jail term of more than 150 years. Henrietta Romero, 32, was indicted on 14 counts and if convicted could face as much as 50 years in jail. Operating a business called Non-Typical Outfitters, the Romeros are accused of forging hunting licenses and hunters' signatures, arranging and conducting illegal hunts, and failing to report gross receipts taxes to the State of New Mexico from 2002 to 2004. They are expected to be arraigned in Cibola County District Court sometime in the next few weeks.
The 1 1/2-year investigation was a combined effort among the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the Tax Fraud Investigations Division of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, the Cibola County District Attorney's Office, and New Mexico State Police.
“We hope by prosecuting this case vigorously, we will be sending a message to others who might be considering this kind of activity,” District Attorney Lemuel Martinez said. “We need to do everything we can to protect the integrity of our elk herd and our legitimate outfitters.”
Leo Sims, chairman of the New Mexico Game Commission, said the case reflects the value placed on New Mexico 's wildlife and emphasizes the need for stiff penalties to deter illegal trophy hunting. The State Legislature currently is considering legislation that will allow the Commission to increase civil penalties for poachers convicted of killing “trophy” animals. Recent studies indicate that hunting and wildlife-associated recreation brings more than $1 billion a year to New Mexico 's economy, including $127 million from outfitting and guiding businesses.
“We need to send a strong message that we will not tolerate people who steal our resources and illegally profit from our wildlife,” Sims said. “It's time for poachers to step up and pay more than honest citizens pay to hunt and fish legally.” Legal hunters often pay thousands of dollars for a chance to hunt trophy elk in New Mexico . In 2004, one hunter paid $79,000 in an auction for one of two elk incentive tags.
Specific charges listed on Wednesday's indictments were:
• Adrian Romero: Racketeering, 1 count; conspiracy to commit racketeering, 1 count; attempts to evade or defeat tax (gross receipts), 5 counts; forgery, 28 counts; fraud, 11 counts; and embezzlement, 6 counts.
• Henrietta Romero : Conspiracy to commit racketeering, 1 count; fraud, 1 count; and forgery, 12 counts.
Bruce Thompson, Director of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, said Wednesday's indictments are examples of the Department's ongoing commitment to fighting illegal hunting statewide.
“We recognize the impact illegal hunting is having on our wildlife resources and our rural economy, and we have stepped up our law enforcement efforts,” Thompson said. “In the past year, we created an ‘Anti-poaching Strike Force,' and with Governor Richardson's and the legislators' support, we have put more officers in the field when needed.”
The investigations that led to Wednesday's indictments were enhanced through a new partnership between the Department of Game and Fish and the 3-year-old Tax Fraud Investigation Division of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Tax Fraud Investigations Division Director Alvan Romero assigned a special agent and a forensic tax auditor to the investigation.
“This case is an example of how the Tax Fraud Investigations Division is partnering with other agencies in investigations that involve unreported income, legal or illegal,” Romero said. “Often, we can come up with substantial charges and help tie up cases financially. In this case, we're confident we have strong enough evidence to be successful in court.”
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish encourages citizens to join the anti-poaching fight by using the Department's toll-free Operation Game Thief number, (800) 432-4263 to report poachers. Callers can remain anonymous and receive rewards if charges are filed.
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004
Public contact: (505) 476-8000
dan.williams@state.nm.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JAN. 26, 2006:
COUPLE FACES RACKETEERING, FORGERY CHARGES IN ILLEGAL HUNTING CASE
GRANTS – A Marquez, N.M., husband-and-wife outfitting team was indicted by a Cibola County Grand Jury on Wednesday on 66 felony charges, including racketeering, forgery, fraud, tax evasion and embezzlement, in connection with an alleged operation in which counterfeit licenses for trophy elk hunts were sold to out-of-state hunters.
In one of the state's biggest cases of poaching and fraud, the Cibola County Grand Jury indicted Adrian Romero, 33, on 52 counts of felony charges. If convicted, he could face a jail term of more than 150 years. Henrietta Romero, 32, was indicted on 14 counts and if convicted could face as much as 50 years in jail. Operating a business called Non-Typical Outfitters, the Romeros are accused of forging hunting licenses and hunters' signatures, arranging and conducting illegal hunts, and failing to report gross receipts taxes to the State of New Mexico from 2002 to 2004. They are expected to be arraigned in Cibola County District Court sometime in the next few weeks.
The 1 1/2-year investigation was a combined effort among the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the Tax Fraud Investigations Division of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, the Cibola County District Attorney's Office, and New Mexico State Police.
“We hope by prosecuting this case vigorously, we will be sending a message to others who might be considering this kind of activity,” District Attorney Lemuel Martinez said. “We need to do everything we can to protect the integrity of our elk herd and our legitimate outfitters.”
Leo Sims, chairman of the New Mexico Game Commission, said the case reflects the value placed on New Mexico 's wildlife and emphasizes the need for stiff penalties to deter illegal trophy hunting. The State Legislature currently is considering legislation that will allow the Commission to increase civil penalties for poachers convicted of killing “trophy” animals. Recent studies indicate that hunting and wildlife-associated recreation brings more than $1 billion a year to New Mexico 's economy, including $127 million from outfitting and guiding businesses.
“We need to send a strong message that we will not tolerate people who steal our resources and illegally profit from our wildlife,” Sims said. “It's time for poachers to step up and pay more than honest citizens pay to hunt and fish legally.” Legal hunters often pay thousands of dollars for a chance to hunt trophy elk in New Mexico . In 2004, one hunter paid $79,000 in an auction for one of two elk incentive tags.
Specific charges listed on Wednesday's indictments were:
• Adrian Romero: Racketeering, 1 count; conspiracy to commit racketeering, 1 count; attempts to evade or defeat tax (gross receipts), 5 counts; forgery, 28 counts; fraud, 11 counts; and embezzlement, 6 counts.
• Henrietta Romero : Conspiracy to commit racketeering, 1 count; fraud, 1 count; and forgery, 12 counts.
Bruce Thompson, Director of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, said Wednesday's indictments are examples of the Department's ongoing commitment to fighting illegal hunting statewide.
“We recognize the impact illegal hunting is having on our wildlife resources and our rural economy, and we have stepped up our law enforcement efforts,” Thompson said. “In the past year, we created an ‘Anti-poaching Strike Force,' and with Governor Richardson's and the legislators' support, we have put more officers in the field when needed.”
The investigations that led to Wednesday's indictments were enhanced through a new partnership between the Department of Game and Fish and the 3-year-old Tax Fraud Investigation Division of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Tax Fraud Investigations Division Director Alvan Romero assigned a special agent and a forensic tax auditor to the investigation.
“This case is an example of how the Tax Fraud Investigations Division is partnering with other agencies in investigations that involve unreported income, legal or illegal,” Romero said. “Often, we can come up with substantial charges and help tie up cases financially. In this case, we're confident we have strong enough evidence to be successful in court.”
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish encourages citizens to join the anti-poaching fight by using the Department's toll-free Operation Game Thief number, (800) 432-4263 to report poachers. Callers can remain anonymous and receive rewards if charges are filed.