2 men sentenced in federal court after illegally importing timber wolf, black bear into U.S.

MILWAUKEE -- Two men from the Milwaukee area were sentenced in federal court Monday, June 27th for illegally importing wildlife into the United States that had been killed in Ontario, Canada in violation of Canadian law.

United States Attorney Gregory Haanstad says in 2014, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) began an investigation into the illegal hunting activities of 41-year-old Reid Viertel of West Allis, Wisconsin, and various associates, including 43-year-old Terry Schmit of Franklin, Wisconsin.

With assistance from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the OMNR determined that despite not having an Ontario license, Viertel had shot and killed a timber wolf in February 2012.

Authorities also determined that in August 2013, Schmit traveled to Ontario with Viertel, where he shot and killed a black bear while hunting without a license.

In both instances, Viertel falsified export documents from Ontario for the purpose of importing the animal carcasses into the United States.

Schmit pleaded guilty to a single offense on June 16th and was sentenced to a $1,000 fine, the forfeiture of the black bear, and a ban on hunting, fishing, and/or trapping in North America until January 1st, 2019.

Viertel pleaded guilty to two offenses on June 21, 2016, and was sentenced to three years probation to include at least 25 hours per year of environmental community service, forfeiture of the wolf and black bear, and a ban on hunting, fishing, and/or trapping in North America until January 1st, 2021.

Viertel also was ordered to serve the 2016 dear gun season (November 19th – 27th) in the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons and to pay the cost of his incarceration.

Both Viertel and Schmit also were convicted in Ontario, Canada, for their illegal hunting activities.