Fifteen people are facing charges in Arizona, indicted by a grand jury on counts related to widespread wildlife poaching that include conspiracy, illegal enterprise, theft, and animal cruelty. The Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes disclosed that from 2018 to 2021, this group allegedly engaged in the unlawful killing of protected species such as bighorn sheep, elk, pronghorn antelope, deer, javelina, and turkeys in multiple counties across the state.
The poaching reportedly spread over the regions of Maricopa, Yavapai, and Coconino counties, with the accused actions causing more than $200,000 in losses to Arizona's wildlife resources, as expressed in a statement obtained by AZFamily. Among the named defendants are Bu Reh, Joseph Hee, Neh Reh, Nga Reh, Pray Reh, Ree Reh, Simon C. Zam, Tee Reh, Ti Reh, and Young Bal Cangmah. Four individuals' names were not released, and reasons for this redaction remain unclear.
The impact of such illegal activities stretches beyond immediate theft; it disrupts ecosystem balance, hinders wildlife management efforts, and detracts from outdoor recreation opportunities including lawful hunting and fishing. Both sources highlight the repercussions of poaching as a theft of Arizona's natural resources. "Poaching steals one of Arizona’s most precious natural resources – wildlife," stated the Attorney General's office as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The indictment also features a particularly egregious count of cruelty wherein Ree Reh and Tee Reh stands accused of taking the life of a deer by bludgeoning its head with a rock.
State officials urge anyone with information on poaching or suspicious activities related to wildlife violations to contact the 24/7 Silent Witness hotline at 1-800-352-0700. Additionally, the public can report violations through the Operation Game Thief website provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. This announcement comes after a recent investigation into the poaching of a mule deer on Hutton Ranch Road, with officials reporting the animal had been shot and left suffering for several hours before help arrived.
