Northeast Texas Man Sentenced for Federal Wildlife Violations

A Cherokee County, Texas, man has been sentenced for federal wildlife violations.  32-year-old Blake Powell has been sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a fine of $243-thousand to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Lacey Act Reward Account. He's also been ordered to make $157-thousand in community restitution to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. What's more, he will be prohibited from participating in the deer breeding business during the term of his probation. Back in December, Powell pled guilty to a three-count bill of information charging him with negligent transportation of wildlife. Prosecutors say Powell owned a high-fence deer breeding facility in Cherokee County and, on three separate occasions, transported and possessed illegally-imported live whitetail deer.