Montana charges east Idaho man in illegal animal carcasses case
Published at | Updated at
Associated Press
HELENA, Montana (AP) — An east Idaho man has been charged with multiple felonies on accusations that he bought illegally obtained wild animal carcasses and parts from an undercover Montana official.
Yan “Bo” Fong was charged with three felony counts of unlawful sale of a game animal and three felony counts of unlawful possession, shipping or transportation of a game animal or fur-bearing animal, the Independent Record reported Thursday.
Fong entered a not guilty plea in Beaverhead County District Court on Nov. 24. Fong’s defense attorney Brent Flowers said he is still in the process of reviewing the case and had no immediate comment.
RELATED: Coyote Corpse Found in Pocatello Restaurant Freezer
Montana prosecutors allege that Fong met with an undercover state conservation officer three times between 2017 and 2018. Fong was told that the undercover official had illegally obtained dead animals to sell, the prosecutors said.
According to the charging documents, Fong is caught on audio saying that he offered bear and mountain lion meat for free to “the tour guide and bus people.” Fong owns a restaurant called Bamboo Garden in Pocatello.
The documents do not say whether authorities substantiated Fong’s alleged statement.
Each felony charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine.
Each charge can also result in the revocation of hunting, fishing and trapping privileges for a minimum of three years up to a lifetime ban.