Texas Game Wardens charge 3 for leading illegal hunts in Willacy County
A local hunting outfitter and two others have been arrested by the Texas Game Wardens after it was found that they would illegally hunt nilgai on private property, according to a press release from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.
The three men arrested were identified as Port Mansfield resident Joshua Garst, 42, Three Rivers resident Cameron Cantu, 40, and Harlingen resident Steven Millon, 41.
“The individuals have been charged with hunting exotic animals without landowner consent, theft of exotic animal livestock and engaging in organized criminal activity,” the release said.
According to the document, the suspects used air boats and thermal optics when taking clients on hunts for nilgai, exotic creatures native to India and Pakistan that were imported to Texas in the 1920s.
The three were “operating a sophisticated scheme and profiting from illegal activity,” the release said.
This comes as a result of a nearly year-long investigation conducted by the Texas Game Wardens in the Rio Grande Valley area, according to the release.
“Warrants were served on multiple properties simultaneously and were executed with the support of multiple game wardens, including the Texas Game Warden Rural Operations Groups, as well as Homeland Security Investigations, due to the organized criminal activity aspect of the case,” the release said.
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