He faces charges of misdemeanor theft for illegally trading sturgeon eggs, as well as obstructing an investigation by a conservation warden. But prosecutors noted that strict regulations exist because of the lucrative trade in black market caviar, which has been linked to organized crime. Caviar is made from curing the eggs of wild sturgeon, a threatened species in many parts of the world. Fish and Wildlife Service, game wardens found that other DNR employees were also illicitly funneling sturgeon eggs to locals willing to turn the roe into caviar in exchange for a share. All three are accused of receiving caviar as payment for processing sturgeon eggs, violating the ban on bartering or trading the valuable roe.

Source: Washington Post February 18, 2021 10:53 UTC