Illegal Cloning Lands Elderly Man in Federal Prison

A rancher faces prison for creating illegal giant hybrid sheep for trophy hunting

Image is from the court document of US v. Schubarth case number 24-cr-0006 in U.S. District Court for District of Montana.Photo byCourt document

An 81-year-old Montana man, Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison. He was charged with illegally cloning giant sheep for use in captive trophy hunting. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris, includes a $20,000 fine and a $4,000 payment to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Schubarth’s crimes involved using tissue from the massive Marco Polo sheep, hunted in Central Asia, and from Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, to create hybrid sheep in the U.S. Marco Polo sheep, the largest in the world, are protected by international treaties and U.S. federal laws. (“Montana Man Sentenced for Federal Wildlife Trafficking | justice.gov”)

Schubarth’s intended to breed larger, more valuable hybrid sheep to be sold for captive hunting operations in states such as Texas and Minnesota. His illegal breeding operation, which spanned nearly a decade, involved transporting prohibited animal species and forging veterinary documents to move the animals in and out of Montana.

Schubarth’s cloning of the animal and subsequent hybrid breeding raised significant concerns about the potential risk to native wildlife populations and the spread of diseases such as Johne’s disease. These concerns were emphasized by the U.S. Department of Justice, which stated that Schubarth’s actions violated the Lacey Act, endangered wildlife, and posed a threat to ecosystems.

In court, Schubarth expressed his regret, stating that his “normal mindset was clouded by enthusiasm” for the project. His defense attorney, Jason Holden, argued for a lighter sentence due to Schubarth’s age and lack of prior criminal record, noting that the case had already ruined his client’s life and reputation.

Despite these arguments, prosecutors maintained that Schubarth’s actions were motivated by greed and demonstrated blatant disregard for the law. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confiscated the sheep, which is now being held in an accredited facility with plans for transfer to a zoo. (“81-year-old man sentenced to prison for cloning giant | cbsnews.com”)

In addition to the prison sentence, Schubarth has been prohibited from breeding game stock for the next three years while on probation, and any remaining hybrid sheep on his ranch must be slaughtered, with the meat donated to a food bank. Schubarth will also be required to sell his Rocky Mountain Bighorn hybrids by the end of 2025.