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TEXAS ATTORNEY SENTENCED FOR LICENSE FRAUD
10/14/2005
WGFD
“ GILLETTE – Add a deer hunting Texas attorney to the list of criminals with an “aka” or “also known as” following their name.
“ Dale O. O’Neal, Jr. of Ft. Worth, also known as Dave O’Neal and Jack Kemp in Wyoming’s big game license draw system, often applied for and received nonresident deer licenses under all three names over the last decade.
“ After receiving a tip from a landowner, wildlife officers investigated the case resulting in O’Neal pleading guilty to his role in submitting false hunting applications and using the licenses to take or aid in taking overlimits of deer.
O’Neal, 48, had his Wyoming hunting and fishing licenses revoked for life and was ordered to pay $6,070 in fines and restitution. He was recently sentenced by Campbell County Circuit Court Judge William S. Edwards.
In the plea agreement with the Campbell County Attorney’s Office, O’Neal pleaded guilty to three counts of overlimit of deer and
one count of aiding in taking an overlimit of deer.
O'Neal was originally charged with felony fraud charges related to the submission of documents to a taxidermist following his harvesting of a deer. Following a preliminary hearing, that judge dismissed the felony charge. Subsequently, O'Neal entered a guilty plea to his remaining charges and convictions were entered for those offenses. The sentence imposed by the court required, among other things, that O'Neal make restitution for his illegal conduct.
Although O’Neal, a family law attorney in Ft. Worth, had been under suspicion for several years, the case intensified in October 2003. O’Neal informed the owner of the ranch northwest of Gillette that only his nephew drew a license, so there would only be one hunter in the party. But while hunting on a portion of the ranch where he was not authorized to be, a ranch hand observed O’Neal shooting a deer and later taking it to a Gillette taxidermist.
Curious about O’Neal’s actions conflicting with his statements, the ranch owner inquired with the taxidermist. The taxidermist had no record of a Dale O’Neal dropping a deer off but did receive a 5-by-5 buck from a man who identified himself as “Jack Kemp” and matched O’Neal’s description. The landowner alerted Game and Fish Department officers who proceeded to investigate the case over the next year.
The investigation revealed O’Neal applied for deer licenses under bogus names nine years in the past and again in 2003 and 2004. On the applications, O’Neal used the same address for all names and social security numbers of individuals unlikely to apply for Wyoming hunting licenses on the fraudulent applications.
When O’Neal arrived in Gillette Oct. 1, 2004, he was promptly arrested by the Game and Fish and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department. He served one night in the Campbell County Detention Facility, posted bond, hired a Gillette attorney and negotiated the charges until a plea agreement was reached July 25, 2005.
“License fraud is one of the most prevalent crimes being committed against wildlife,” said Scott Adell, Game and Fish investigator who led the case. “We will continue to diligently check license records and will prosecute violators who exploit the system while responsible hunters and anglers do everything correct.”
When asked why he submitted fraudulent big game applications, O’Neal told officers he was “just being funny,” and he wanted to make sure whomever he brought to Wyoming to hunt would have a license.
Almost every year Region C licenses are leftover after the drawing and are available for purchase through the season from the Game and Fish.
Adell said the investigation suggested O’Neal would use the extra fraudulent licenses to take overlimits. The investigation also suggested he would sometimes take a friend or relative hunting and pay the landowner a trespass fee for just one hunter, and then also shoot a deer himself
The same landowner who provided the information in October 2003 that broke the case, first reported possible violations to the Game and Fish in 1996. That information proved inconclusive at the time but aided the 2003-04 investigation.
Adell said the skillful prosecution by Bill Edelman, assistant Campbell County attorney, was vital in obtaining the conviction.
Adell urges anyone with information about license fraud or any other wildlife crime to report it to the Stop Poaching Hotline at (800) 442-4331. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to a conviction.
(contact: Scott Adell (307) 672-7418 or Jeff Obrecht)
-WGFD-
10/14/2005
WGFD
“ GILLETTE – Add a deer hunting Texas attorney to the list of criminals with an “aka” or “also known as” following their name.
“ Dale O. O’Neal, Jr. of Ft. Worth, also known as Dave O’Neal and Jack Kemp in Wyoming’s big game license draw system, often applied for and received nonresident deer licenses under all three names over the last decade.
“ After receiving a tip from a landowner, wildlife officers investigated the case resulting in O’Neal pleading guilty to his role in submitting false hunting applications and using the licenses to take or aid in taking overlimits of deer.
O’Neal, 48, had his Wyoming hunting and fishing licenses revoked for life and was ordered to pay $6,070 in fines and restitution. He was recently sentenced by Campbell County Circuit Court Judge William S. Edwards.
In the plea agreement with the Campbell County Attorney’s Office, O’Neal pleaded guilty to three counts of overlimit of deer and
one count of aiding in taking an overlimit of deer.
O'Neal was originally charged with felony fraud charges related to the submission of documents to a taxidermist following his harvesting of a deer. Following a preliminary hearing, that judge dismissed the felony charge. Subsequently, O'Neal entered a guilty plea to his remaining charges and convictions were entered for those offenses. The sentence imposed by the court required, among other things, that O'Neal make restitution for his illegal conduct.
Although O’Neal, a family law attorney in Ft. Worth, had been under suspicion for several years, the case intensified in October 2003. O’Neal informed the owner of the ranch northwest of Gillette that only his nephew drew a license, so there would only be one hunter in the party. But while hunting on a portion of the ranch where he was not authorized to be, a ranch hand observed O’Neal shooting a deer and later taking it to a Gillette taxidermist.
Curious about O’Neal’s actions conflicting with his statements, the ranch owner inquired with the taxidermist. The taxidermist had no record of a Dale O’Neal dropping a deer off but did receive a 5-by-5 buck from a man who identified himself as “Jack Kemp” and matched O’Neal’s description. The landowner alerted Game and Fish Department officers who proceeded to investigate the case over the next year.
The investigation revealed O’Neal applied for deer licenses under bogus names nine years in the past and again in 2003 and 2004. On the applications, O’Neal used the same address for all names and social security numbers of individuals unlikely to apply for Wyoming hunting licenses on the fraudulent applications.
When O’Neal arrived in Gillette Oct. 1, 2004, he was promptly arrested by the Game and Fish and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department. He served one night in the Campbell County Detention Facility, posted bond, hired a Gillette attorney and negotiated the charges until a plea agreement was reached July 25, 2005.
“License fraud is one of the most prevalent crimes being committed against wildlife,” said Scott Adell, Game and Fish investigator who led the case. “We will continue to diligently check license records and will prosecute violators who exploit the system while responsible hunters and anglers do everything correct.”
When asked why he submitted fraudulent big game applications, O’Neal told officers he was “just being funny,” and he wanted to make sure whomever he brought to Wyoming to hunt would have a license.
Almost every year Region C licenses are leftover after the drawing and are available for purchase through the season from the Game and Fish.
Adell said the investigation suggested O’Neal would use the extra fraudulent licenses to take overlimits. The investigation also suggested he would sometimes take a friend or relative hunting and pay the landowner a trespass fee for just one hunter, and then also shoot a deer himself
The same landowner who provided the information in October 2003 that broke the case, first reported possible violations to the Game and Fish in 1996. That information proved inconclusive at the time but aided the 2003-04 investigation.
Adell said the skillful prosecution by Bill Edelman, assistant Campbell County attorney, was vital in obtaining the conviction.
Adell urges anyone with information about license fraud or any other wildlife crime to report it to the Stop Poaching Hotline at (800) 442-4331. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to a conviction.
(contact: Scott Adell (307) 672-7418 or Jeff Obrecht)
-WGFD-
