Branden Trager and Mayhem Services Plead Guilty to Lacey Act Violations
Branden Trager, a Brush Prairie hunting guide, and his company, Mayhem Services LLC, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 21, 2025, to violating the Lacey Act by illegally transporting birds hunted in breach of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).
In January 2023, Trager guided an unlawful hunt in western Washington, targeting migratory birds, and in 2022, he led unauthorized waterfowl trips in British Columbia, pursuing prized harlequin ducks without a Canadian guiding permit.
The Lacey Act, a 125-year-old law, bans transporting illegally taken wildlife across borders. Facing $175,000 in recommended fines, Trager and his company must also publicly express regret and underscore wildlife regulation importance.
The case, prosecuted by the Justice Department with support from multiple agencies, highlights the need for strict adherence to wildlife laws to protect migratory species. Sentencing is set for October 16.
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