$250,000 in fines...

[JABIII]

Georgia Company Pays Large Fine for Killing Birds
Kahn Cattle Company Officials Guilty of Federal Charges
posted March 23, 2005

Officials with a North Georgia Cattle Company have been sentenced on federal charges for killing thousands of birds, including many migratory birds. Roger Kahn, Glenn M. Barmlett, and Kahn Cattle Company pled guilty to violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The company also pled guilty to a violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

Roger Kahn was ordered to pay more than $250,000 in restitution and fines Thursday in federal court in Rome.

Kahn, a former congressional candidate, could have been personally sentenced to as many as six months in prison, but U.S. District Judge Harold L. Murphy decided to approve a negotiated plea agreement stipulating a sentence of 60 days home confinement and one year probation along with a $15,000 fine and 160 hours community service.

Kahn’s farm manager, Glen M. “Mike” Bramlett, received the same sentence.

Kahn’s company, Kahn Cattle Company LLC, must pay $97,284 restitution for the value of the birds killed and the cleanup of his property. In addition, the company will pay a $170,000 fine for illegally dumping.

According to officials, on or about Jan. 20, 2003, Kahn and Bramlett spread corn laced with a chemical known as Warbex around a pond in Bartow County, Ga. on property owned by Kahn Cattle Company. The tainted corn was spread in order to kill nuisance birds.

At the time residents in the neighborhood reported birds "falling from the sky."

Warbex is a topical preparation that is applied to cattle to control insect pests. It contains Famphur, which is a highly toxic substance that is not meant for ingestion.

Federal and state agents ultimately collected 3,326 birds, including a great horned owl, red-tailed hawks, mourning doves, Canada geese, a mallard duck, a cardinal, blue jays, red-winged blackbirds, a brown thrasher, grackles, crows and
cowbirds. The case was investigated by the Atlanta Office of EPA's Criminal Investigation Division and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with support from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

U. S. Attorney David Nahmias said of the case, "Because citizens in the Northern District of Georgia are entitled to safe and healthy communities, the U.S. Attorney's office will prosecute criminal violations of the federal laws designed to protect the environment and wildlife."

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent in Charge James Gale noted that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act seeks to protect migratory birds which are of great ecological and economic value to this and other countries. Gale added that not only do migratory birds contribute to biological diversity, they also are enjoyed by Americans who study, watch, feed or hunt these birds.

Gale also stated that "these guilty pleas demonstrate that KAHN, BRAMLETT, and KAHN CATTLE COMPANY have taken responsibility for intentionally killing thousands of migratory birds strictly protected by state, federal, and international law."

[Red]

Were these birds attacking the cows? Dumb Asses!