HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Thursday that Daniel E. Strachan, age 60, of Depew, New York, was charged in a one-count criminal information with illegal possession of wildlife.
According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the information alleges that Strachan received several items of illegally transported wildlife through the mail. It is alleged that Strachan bartered for and bought various eagle parts and a bald eagle carcass in violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits the sale and receipt of wildlife taken in violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
The United States also filed a plea agreement, which is subject to the approval of the Court, wherein it is indicated that Strachan intends to plead guilty to the charges when he appears in federal court.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is five years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.
