Timothy Rawlings, 56, of Laveen, Arizona, recently received a 12 month sentence in federal prison for violations of the Lacey Act and Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), Rawlings received the sentence on July 31, 2025, after the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and CPW conducted an investigation into the man’s activities. The Lacey Act works to prohibit wildlife violations that cross state or international borders in order to protect the nation’s wildlife resources.
Poaching Uncovered
An investigation into Rawlings began when two CPW Wildlife Officers became suspicious that he was illegally outfitting in Colorado. CPW investigators and local officers worked together to uncover the poaching scheme that had was by Rawlings and covering multiple states. Once investigators uncovered the Lacey Act violations, USFWS Special Agents came in to present the case for federal prosecution through the United States Department of Justice.
“This case is a shining example of multiple agencies working together towards common law enforcement goals. CPW was proud to be a part of bringing down a prolific wildlife poacher, and working hand in hand with Special Agents of the USFWS. It’s the successful collaboration between CPW Officers and Investigators, Special Agents, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office that resulted in the prosecution of this case. The health of our wildlife populations is based on a legacy of ethical hunting, so people who hunt unlawfully have a negative impact on our natural resources. Our Wildlife Officers are very committed to catching violators and protecting those resources.” – Ty Petersburg, CPW’s Chief of Law Enforcement.
Rawlings had reportedly provided outfitting, hunting and guiding services to paying clients for big game animals including deer, elk, mountain lions and bears. His company did not have the required licensing to provide such services in Colorado. Rawlings’ violations included illegal outfitting, brokering of landowner vouchers, shooting from vehicles, chasing animals with vehicles, and hunting in unlicensed and unpermitted lands. He also failed to register animals that he and clients had taken as required by Colorado law, including mountain lions.
Protecting Wildlife and Ethical Hunting
For his crimes, Rawlings received 12 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release following the prison term ,and $45,800 in restitution. His defendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, 71, of Baca County, Colorado, previously received three years’ probation, $9,164 in restitution, and a $2,000 fine for a misdemeanor Lacey Act violation.
Rawlings committed these crimes knowing that his clients resided almost exclusively outside of Colorado. According to his plea, he knew that the animals taken would likely travel in interstate commerce. The Lacey Act prohibits the transportation of wildlife that has been illegally taken under federal, state, tribal or foreign law, among other things.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers two reward programs for those who report poaching. Since 1981, CPW has received 2,100 reports of poaching, successfully received 700 convictions from reports, and paid $130,000 in rewards to citizens who reported suspected illegal activity. You can learn more about reporting poaching in Colorado here.