BLM-Nevada Assistant Special Agent in Charge Recognized for Investigative Excellence

The United States Attorney in the District of Colorado recently recognized BLM-Nevada Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anne Marie Sharkey for her extraordinary efforts on an Endangered Species Act investigation in Colorado.

While working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Special Agent Sharkey helped investigate an American hunter who violated Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wild Life Act when he shot and killed an African Elephant inside Gonarezhou National Park in 2015 and attempted to export the animal to South Africa where he intended to sell the two ivory tusks totaling nearly 117 pounds.  District of Colorado United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn presented Special Agent Sharkey and fellow FWS Special Agent Stacy Campbell with Investigative Excellence Awards for their outstanding work.

Their efforts helped get a guilty plea from Evergreen, Colo., hunter Paul Ross Jackson who was sentenced to pay the maximum Endangered Species Act penalty of $25,000, received worldwide hunting restrictions, and agreed to work with FWS to return the poached ivory to the government of Zimbabwe.  Thanks to the hard work of Special Agents Sharkey and Campbell, the South African hunter/guide who aided the defendant in Zimbabwe is also under indictment for his role in the violations.

Additionally, in 2019, ASAC Sharkey will become the first BLM law enforcement professional selected to attend the National Conservation Law Enforcement Leadership Academy in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.  The BLM is proud of ASAC Sharkey’s accomplishments and recognition and is fortunate to have agents of her caliber in its law enforcement ranks.

Illegal wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar business involving the unlawful harvest of and trade in live animals and plants or parts and products derived from them. Thousands of wildlife species like the African Elephant are threatened by illegal and unsustainable global wildlife trade. Elephant poaching is increasing throughout Africa and the amount of illegal ivory shipments destined for markets in Southeast Asia has surged dramatically over the last few years.  To learn more about illegal wildlife trade and ongoing FWS work with international partners to curb it globally, please visit the FWS webpage.