Pleads Guilty, Illegally Trafficking Whale, Bird Parts Tuesday — Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Trafficking Whale and Bird Parts | United States Justice Department.
or state law. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibit the sale and transportation of whale and migratory bird items without a permit, such as for public display, scientific study, or enhancement of species survival.Bachkovsky will be sentenced at a later date. Attorney Craig Wolff for the District of Maine, and Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. announcement Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Trafficking Whale and Bird Parts Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Share Facebook X LinkedIn Email For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs Sergey Bachkovsky,
of Greene, Maine, entered a guilty plea today in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Operation Raw Deal, which targeted the unlawful import and resale of whale teeth and bone (such as in a South Carolina case recently sentenced).Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. The sperm whale and blue whale have been protected by the Endangered Species Act since 1973. He carries a maximum potential punishment of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the
gain or loss from the illegal activity.Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Updated September 30, 2025 Topic Wildlife Components Environment and Natural Resources Division ENRD – Environmental Crimes Section USAO – Maine announcement Number: 25-1019. wildlife trafficking law, to trade in wildlife taken, possessed, transported or sold contrary to another U.S. The items included sperm whale and marine mammal teeth (both raw items and scrimshaw art pieces), blue whale and Antarctic minke whale ear bones, and a broad-winged hawk carcass. District Court in Portland,