Evergreen Reporter

A federal grand jury in Pocatello indicted three individuals for conspiracy and violations of the Lacey Act. Chad Michael Kulow, Andrea May Major, both 44 from Kuna, Idaho, and LaVoy Linton Eborn, 47 from Paris, Idaho, face charges related to illegal big game outfitting and guiding activities.

The indictment was issued on August 27, 2024. Kulow faces twelve counts including one felony count of conspiracy and eleven felony Lacey Act violations. Major is charged with seven counts including one felony count of conspiracy and six felony Lacey Act violations. Eborn faces eight counts with one felony count of conspiracy and seven felony Lacey Act violations.

The charges stem from allegations that in late 2021, while licensed guides in Idaho, the defendants conspired to violate the Lacey Act by illegally acting as outfitters. They allegedly booked mountain lion hunts independently, accepted direct payments, and guided hunts in southeast Idaho and Wyoming outside their permitted service area. Between December 2021 and February 2022, they reportedly conducted illegal hunts resulting in the killing of at least eleven mountain lions in Idaho and a record mountain lion in Wyoming.

Several false Big Game Mortality Reports were submitted to Idaho Fish and Game. Additionally, some mountain lions were shipped directly to Texas without proper reporting. The transportation of these animals violated federal law and multiple state laws.

Kulow and Major were arrested on September 24, 2024, while Eborn was taken into custody on September 25, 2024. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham between September 26-30, where all entered not guilty pleas. A jury trial is set for November 18, 2024.

The alleged violations carry potential penalties of up to five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years supervised release.

This case involves investigations by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Office of Law Enforcement along with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Forest Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett is handling prosecution.

"An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity," noted officials. "It is not evidence." All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.