Foiles Pleads Guilty.

[h2ofowlr]

Some info on Foiles case.

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/News/release.cfm?rid=423

Jeff Foiles Pleads Guilty to Federal Duck Hunting Violations

 

Working together with state wildlife enforcement agents in Illinois and Iowa, and internationally with counterparts in Canada, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) agents close illegal duck hunting case. Professional duck hunter and guide Jeffrey B. Foiles pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield, Ill., to wildlife charges arising from the illegal sale of guided waterfowl hunts, the Department of Justice announced July 23, 2011.

 

Foiles, 54, of Pleasant Hill, Ill., pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one misdemeanor count of unlawful sale of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act, as well as one misdemeanor count of unlawfully taking migratory game birds in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  At the same time, the company that operates Foiles’ hunting club, the Fallin’ Skies Strait Meat Duck Club LLC, located in Pike County, Ill., pleaded guilty to an information charging it with one felony count of unlawful sale of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act and one felony count of making false writings in a matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

The Lacey Act is a federal law that makes it illegal to knowingly transport or sell wildlife taken in violation of federal law or regulation. The act defines the sale of wildlife to include the sale of guiding services for the illegal taking of wildlife.

 

“The case had more to do with greed than hunting,” notes USFWS Resident Agent in Charge for Illinois and Missouri Timothy J. Santel. “When you look at the totality of the crimes, the case was more about commercializing wildlife for private gain then the art of hunting,” said Santel.

 

According to the plea agreements filed yesterday, between 2003 and 2007, Foiles sold and guided waterfowl hunts at the club for the purpose of illegally hunting ducks and geese in excess of hunters’ individual daily bag limits. Guided hunters paid $250 per day for hunts at the club. Foiles and others at the club also falsified hunting records in order to conceal the excesses.

 

The maximum penalty for a felony violation of the Lacey Act or the federal false writing statute includes up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

According to the plea agreements filed yesterday, the government and the defendants have jointly asked the court to sentence Foiles to 13 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release during which time he may not hunt or guide hunters, and to pay a $100,000 fine for which Fallin’ Skies Strait Meat Duck Club LLC agreed to serve as guarantor.  Further, Foiles agreed to one additional year, following completion of his term of supervised release, during which he will not hunt or guide. 

 

The court must determine whether or not to accept the plea agreements.  If the plea agreements are accepted by the court, the government has agreed to dismiss the pending felony indictment against Foiles.

 

The sentencing hearing for Foiles is currently set for Sept. 21, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Byron G. Cudmore.  The sentencing hearing for Fallin’ Skies Strait Meat Duck Club LLC is scheduled for Oct. 27, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Richard Mills.

 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the government of Canada. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois and the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section.

[ebitzan]

its a shame... why would he knowingly do something like that??? i have totally lost respect for him... he was my favorite waterfowler... it makes me want to take my $130 call and shove it up his butt... but im sure he will be getting lots of stuff rammed up there at prison!

[White Tornado]

Seems like any sentence should include a lifetime ban from hunting or guiding. Nothing but a commercial poacher who was encouraging others to poach as well. What a dirt bag!!!!

[ebitzan]

yea he wasnt just out by himself taking too many birds... he even made his clients take too many birds also!!! basically sucking them into poachin also!!! thats just the stuff they proved!!! imagine what other kind of stupid crap he was doin!

[Elkrunner]

Since he has gone through so much during the trial, maybe we should all send him a gift basket?  I for one would take a huge dump in a box and send it to him.

[h2ofowlr]

I was at Cabela's yesterday and couldn't pass up his DVD in the bargain cave for $4 and some change.  He still made good calls and stuff.  It's just unfortunate the black eye he gave to the waterfowling community.  Greed and ego got him in trouble.

[ebitzan]

Since he has gone through so much during the trial, maybe we should all send him a gift basket?  I for one would take a huge dump in a box and send it to him.

hahahaha 

[carpsniperg2]

Trash! Don't know what he was thinking 

[Battle Ready]

I think it must of been greed. It's too bad, he was a respected member of the sport.

[rtspring]

this guy makes all of us look bad,

Send in SEAL TEAM 6 , then take him out to sea wrap his ass in a white sheet and send himto the bottom of the ocean........


It worked before 

[Wenatcheejay]

this guy makes all of us look bad,

Send in SEAL TEAM 6 , then take him out to sea wrap his ass in a white sheet and send himto the bottom of the ocean........


It worked before 

Poachers should be shot? Really?

I have talked about this on the site before. Guides have got to realize that undercover agents are posing as clients. Clients can get sucked into a sting just by being at the hunt club or at a ranch under what is basically a fishing exposition. They try to create a case.
I have heard, "don't think for a second that they would not be there if they did not think they could make a case." I say irrelevant. You don't know who the stranger is beside you, keep your nose clean.  If you need mass amounts of large or small game go to a pay to play. If not and you are caught there are consequences. Fortunately, being shot in the head is not one of them.

 

[kbyers]

I would like to think that a lifetime ban would be part of the sentencing.  Not only was he poaching, he was making a profit off of it.  Too bad cause he makes a great product

[boots]

I started having negative feelings towards the Foiles crowd when I saw them shoot the same bird 3 or 4 times in slow-motion as it fell out of the sky

[wsucowboy]

I was at Cabela's yesterday and couldn't pass up his DVD in the bargain cave for $4 and some change.  He still made good calls and stuff.  It's just unfortunate the black eye he gave to the waterfowling community.  Greed and ego got him in trouble.

He may be a piece of crap but that's not going to make me throw away his calls or anything. I've always like his calls and have killed a lot of ducks using them. Any time I see them on sale for cheap I'm going to end up buying it.

[akirkland]

Felony? Doesnt that mean he cant be near a gun? Thats awesome if thats the case.

[goosegetter79]

Felony? Doesnt that mean he cant be near a gun? Thats awesome if thats the case.

The company that operates the hunting club was charged with the felonies not foiles.

[[HTi]Fowlmouth]

I definitly agree that he should deal with what is coming to him, but he didn't actually make the other hunters that were with him poach. They did that on their own and just as Foils is getting his, every Joe Blow that shot more than they should have, should be punished as well. Just my 

[ICEMAN]

Felony? Doesnt that mean he cant be near a gun? Thats awesome if thats the case.

 
Not how I read this. IMHO, he is personally pleading to a Misdemeanor, but the corporation will get the Felony violation for the unlawful sale... 
 
I doubt he will lose any gun rights after his time in jail and after his supervision. No prison for him, just some jail time...
 
 

Foiles, 54, of Pleasant Hill, Ill., pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one misdemeanor count of unlawful sale of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act, as well as one misdemeanor count of unlawfully taking migratory game birds in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  At the same time, the company that operates Foiles’ hunting club, the Fallin’ Skies Strait Meat Duck Club LLC, located in Pike County, Ill., pleaded guilty to an information charging it with one felony count of unlawful sale of wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act and one felony count of making false writings in a matter within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 
According to the plea agreements filed yesterday, the government and the defendants have jointly asked the court to sentence Foiles to 13 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release during which time he may not hunt or guide hunters, and to pay a $100,000 fine for which Fallin’ Skies Strait Meat Duck Club LLC agreed to serve as guarantor.  Further, Foiles agreed to one additional year, following completion of his term of supervised release, during which he will not hunt or guide. 


The court must determine whether or not to accept the plea agreements.  If the plea agreements are accepted by the court, the government has agreed to dismiss the pending felony indictment against Foiles.

[ICEMAN]

Felony? Doesnt that mean he cant be near a gun? Thats awesome if thats the case.

The company that operates the hunting club was charged with the felonies not foiles.

oops, didnt see this yet....
 
I agree with goosegetter.

[pyroducksx3]

Felony? Doesnt that mean he cant be near a gun? Thats awesome if thats the case.

The company that operates the hunting club was charged with the felonies not foiles.

So if a company is charges with a felony how does that work? I mean if a company is charges is any specific person resposible or is it a fine? He was part owner of the club so I'm just curious. I am actually very dissapointed with the outcome of this case. If you read the list of charges they had on him a couple misdemeanors is practically getting scot free for this guy.
 
oops, didnt see this yet....
 
I agree with goosegetter.

[Madison]

the organization takes the brunt of the hit.  They fold it down.  Foiles personally gets a slap on the wrist and they move on. Welcome to America

[ctwiggs1]

yea he wasnt just out by himself taking too many birds... he even made his clients take too many birds also!!! basically sucking them into poachin also!!! thats just the stuff they proved!!! imagine what other kind of stupid crap he was doin!

Nobody "makes" you shoot too many birds.  Even if I am with a guide, I still not what is and isn't legal.  If the clients got caught, they should have been cited as well.

Curtis