Dream Mountain Ranch | Google
A federal grand jury has indicted three individuals, including the manager of a Preston County hunting reserve, for conspiring to violate the Lacey Act by illegally transporting live deer from West Virginia to Ohio without mandatory health documentation.
Brian Poling, 51, of Albright, West Virginia, who manages Dream Mountain Ranch, is accused alongside Levi S. Weaver, 74, of Fredericksburg, Ohio, and Leroy M. Miller, 40, of Millersburg, Ohio. The indictment, announced yesterday by U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey for the Northern District of West Virginia, charges the men with conspiracy to transport wildlife in interstate commerce in violation of federal law.
Dream Mountain Ranch, located on over 1,000 acres near Albright (about 30 minutes from Morgantown), is a private hunting preserve and event venue offering trophy deer and elk hunts, guided experiences, and accommodations. The property features multiple hunting stands, a lodge, and diverse game species, marketed as a premier destination for outdoor enthusiasts in the Appalachian region.
Fallow Deer | Dream Mountain Ranch Facebook
According to court documents and the U.S. Attorney's Office, Poling allegedly conspired with Weaver and Miller to move live deer across state lines without the required Interstate Certificate of Veterinarian Inspection and proof of negative tuberculosis testing, as mandated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"The illegal transport of live deer poses a serious threat to people, wildlife, and the economy. Deer can carry deadly zoonotic diseases that may be spread to humans, livestock, and other animals. Without proper safeguards, outbreaks can occur that disrupt hunting traditions and jeopardize farm livelihoods,” said Doug Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “We remain firmly committed to working with our state and federal partners to protect the American public and preserve our nation's natural resources for sustainable use by future generations.”
The investigation was led by the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement and if convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of up to five years in federal prison. No specific details on the number of deer transported, exact dates of the alleged incidents, or trial scheduling have been publicly released yet, as the case is in its early stages.
“West Virginians have long depended on a healthy and diverse wildlife population to feed our families, make memories, and enjoy our great outdoors.” said U.S. Attorney Harvey. “It is our shared heritage and will be protected.”
The case is being prosecuted in federal court in the Northern District of West Virginia.
