OMAHA – The final two prosecutions of over 50 defendants in the long-unfolding Hidden Hills Outfitters case have taken place, according to a statement released by the United States Attorney’s Office.
United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Josh T. Bowmar, 32, Sarah E. Bowmar, 33, and Bowmar Bowhunting LLC of Ankeny, Iowa, were sentenced on Thursday in federal court in Omaha for Conspiracy to Violate the Lacey Act.
The Lacey Act prohibits the trafficking in interstate commerce wildlife, fish, or indigenous plants that were taken in violation of law or regulation.
The investigation determined that beginning in September 2015, and continuing through November 2017, the Bowmars conducted approximately five hunts per year at Hidden Hills Outfitters (HHO), a commercial big game guiding and outfitting business, near Broken Bow.
During the course of commercially-guided hunting activity, the Bowmars conspired to transport wildlife, or parts thereof, from Nebraska to Ohio, when the Bowmars should have known that the wildlife was attempted to be taken, possessed, and transported contrary to Nebraska state law. The Bowmars, utilizing various internet and social media platforms including their Bowmar Bowhunting website, Instagram site, and YouTube channel, published and broadcasted hunting activities that occurred at HHO.
Both Bowmars and their corporate entity were convicted after pleading guilty, and sentenced each to three years probation and 40 hours of community service. Additionally, Magistrate Judge Michael D. Nelson ordered the Bowmars to pay a $75,000 fine, a $44,000 money judgment in lieu of forfeiting certain property, and $13,000 in restitution. The Bowmars are prohibited from hunting or engaging in hunting-related activities within the District of Nebraska during the probationary period.
Of the 52 defendants during the case, a total of 39 defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced and ordered to pay a total of $759,732 in fines, restitution, and forfeiture, serve 30 months of incarceration, 47 years of probation, and 72 years of hunting and guiding restrictions for underlying violations related to at least 97 unlawfully-taken big game animals or wild turkey including deer taken within baited areas; deer, pronghorn, and wild turkeys taken with weapons or firearms prohibited during their respective hunting seasons; deer taken during closed season hours, from the road, or without a valid permit; and mule deer taken within the Mule Deer Conservation Area.
An additional 13 individuals resolved their cases through administrative abandonment of various wildlife trophies originating from unlawful hunts at Hidden Hills Outfitters. The operation was a joint investigation conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division.
