Timothy Rawlings, 56, of Laveen, Arizona, has been sentenced to twelve months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a conspiracy charge under the Lacey Act. The sentencing also includes three years of supervised release and $45,800 in restitution. His codefendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, 71, from Baca County, Colorado, received a sentence of three years’ probation along with financial penalties.
According to court documents, Rawlings owned Old West Guides and Outfitters in Arizona and offered outfitting and guiding services for big game hunting. However, his company was not licensed to operate in Colorado. Rawlings hired Rodarmel to provide unlicensed guiding services in Baca County. Investigators found that Rawlings violated multiple hunting regulations including shooting from vehicles, chasing animals with vehicles, hunting on unlicensed or unpermitted lands, and failing to register hunted animals such as mountain lions.
Rawlings knowingly provided these illegal services primarily to clients from outside Colorado. During the investigation, he also led undercover agents on an illegal hunt where further violations occurred. The Lacey Act prohibits transporting wildlife that has been illegally taken across state lines.
“Operating without proper licensing undermines wildlife conservation efforts and the integrity of our state’s hunting regulations,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “We will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit by skirting the laws that protect Colorado’s natural resources and ensure fair access for all.”
“This was not a momentary lapse in judgment or isolated violation,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “For several years, Rawlings and his associates systematically violated Colorado’s hunting and guiding regulations, orchestrating illegal hunts, and facilitating the unlawful take, transport, and sale of big game across state lines for monetary financial gain. Their actions stripped wildlife from our landscapes and betrayed the foundational principles of ethical hunting. Violations like these erode public trust in licensed guides, undermine decades of conservation progress, and tarnish the legacy of fair-chase hunting that ethical sportsmen and women work hard to preserve. The Service is committed to working with our partners in Colorado to ensure that those who break the law are held accountable and that we protect the integrity of our natural resources.”
United States District Judge S. Kato Crews presided over sentencing. The case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service together with Colorado Parks and Wildlife; prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Kurt Bohn.
