Two arrested after lengthy investigation into illegal venison sales
EDMESTON – The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced on May 12, that following a two-year investigation by the DEC Environmental Conservation Officers (ECO's) that they uncovered an illegal venison sales operation in the town of Edmeston, in Otsego County.
According to a press release from DEC, members of DEC's Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation (BECI) unit executed a search warrant recently at a butchers shop in Edmeston named Farmers Place.
During the course of executing the search warrant, DEC ECO's recovered more than 3,600 pounds of illegal venison meat and products.
The longtime owner of Farmers Place, Joseph Leonard, 73, also known as "The Deer Man," was arrested and charged with illegal commercialization of wildlife, a felony; grand larceny, a felony; illegal scheme to defraud in the first degree, a class E felony; and criminal solicitation in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor.
The search warrant was issued after Leonard allegedly sold illegal venison products to undercover investigators.
The manager of Farmers Place, Tamra Hoag, 57, was also arrested in connection to the investigation and charged with illegal commercialization of wildlife, felony; and illegal scheme to defraud in the first degree, a class E felony.
It should be noted that per the press release from the DEC, it is illegal to sell white-tailed deer meat and deer parts in New York State.
Both Leonard and Hoag were arraigned in the Town of Edmeston criminal court on Tuesday and are due back in court on June 6, at 6 p.m.
Leonard has been running Farmers Place as a cornerstone butchers shop in community for some time, and has even won 'The Cured Meat Hall of Fame Award' in 2005.
This excerpt was taken from the American Association of Meat Processors website as a definition of the award Leonard received.
“The Cured Meat Hall of Fame Award was established to recognize individuals that have shown a long-standing excellence in the production of cured meats. One person per year will be selected to receive the award unless otherwise recommended. Award winners have been actively participated in the American Cured Meat Championships for several years, state cured meat shows, demonstrated exceptional ability in the production of cured meats, been involved in AAMP activities, and willing to share knowledge and information with others in the meat industry.”
Both Leonard and Hoag were arraigned in the Town of Edmeston Criminal Court on Tuesday, May 10, and are set to appear back in court on June 6, at 6 p.m.
According to Nathan Riegal, the Public Information Officer at the State Police out of Sidney, the State Police Barracks in Richfield Springs was used for processing purposes.
According to a press release from DEC, members of DEC's Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation (BECI) unit executed a search warrant recently at a butchers shop in Edmeston named Farmers Place.
During the course of executing the search warrant, DEC ECO's recovered more than 3,600 pounds of illegal venison meat and products.
The longtime owner of Farmers Place, Joseph Leonard, 73, also known as "The Deer Man," was arrested and charged with illegal commercialization of wildlife, a felony; grand larceny, a felony; illegal scheme to defraud in the first degree, a class E felony; and criminal solicitation in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor.
The search warrant was issued after Leonard allegedly sold illegal venison products to undercover investigators.
The manager of Farmers Place, Tamra Hoag, 57, was also arrested in connection to the investigation and charged with illegal commercialization of wildlife, felony; and illegal scheme to defraud in the first degree, a class E felony.
It should be noted that per the press release from the DEC, it is illegal to sell white-tailed deer meat and deer parts in New York State.
Both Leonard and Hoag were arraigned in the Town of Edmeston criminal court on Tuesday and are due back in court on June 6, at 6 p.m.
Leonard has been running Farmers Place as a cornerstone butchers shop in community for some time, and has even won 'The Cured Meat Hall of Fame Award' in 2005.
This excerpt was taken from the American Association of Meat Processors website as a definition of the award Leonard received.
“The Cured Meat Hall of Fame Award was established to recognize individuals that have shown a long-standing excellence in the production of cured meats. One person per year will be selected to receive the award unless otherwise recommended. Award winners have been actively participated in the American Cured Meat Championships for several years, state cured meat shows, demonstrated exceptional ability in the production of cured meats, been involved in AAMP activities, and willing to share knowledge and information with others in the meat industry.”
Both Leonard and Hoag were arraigned in the Town of Edmeston Criminal Court on Tuesday, May 10, and are set to appear back in court on June 6, at 6 p.m.
According to Nathan Riegal, the Public Information Officer at the State Police out of Sidney, the State Police Barracks in Richfield Springs was used for processing purposes.
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