Wildlife poacher sentenced for illegal hunting and trafficking in Colorado

Bridget O'Rourke
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-219-2919
[email protected]

DENVER – On July 31, 2025, Timothy Rawlings, 56, of Laveen, Arizona, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for violations of the Lacey Act and Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, both federal felonies. Rawlings’ sentence also includes three years of supervised release following the prison term and $45,800 in restitution. His co-defendant, Howard Wayne Rodarmel, 71, of Baca County, Colorado, was previously sentenced for a misdemeanor Lacey Act violation to three years’ probation, $9,164 in restitution and a $2,000 fine.

Enacted 125 years ago, the Lacey Act protects the nation’s wildlife resources by prohibiting wildlife violations that cross state or international borders.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and began when two CPW Wildlife Officers became suspicious that Rawlings was illegally outfitting in Colorado.  CPW investigators and local officers worked relentlessly to uncover the poaching scheme, spearheaded by Rawlings and covering multiple states.  When Lacey Act violations were discovered, CPW worked with USFWS Special Agents to present the case for federal prosecution through the United States Department of Justice.

According to the plea agreement, Rawlings — who owned and operated Old West Guides and Outfitters in Laveen, Arizona — provided outfitting, hunting and guiding services to paying clients for various big game animals, to include deer, elk, mountain lions and bears. Rawlings’ company was not licensed to provide these services in the state of Colorado.

Rawlings’ violations of hunting regulations were numerous and severe, including illegal outfitting, brokering of landowner vouchers, shooting from vehicles, chasing animals with vehicles, and hunting in unlicensed and unpermitted lands. He also failed to register animals taken, including mountain lions, as required by Colorado regulations.

Rawlings did all of this knowing that his clients resided almost exclusively outside of the state of Colorado, and that the animals taken would likely travel in interstate commerce. The Lacey Act prohibits, among other things, transporting wildlife that has been illegally taken under federal, state, tribal or foreign law.

“This case is a shining example of multiple agencies working together towards common law enforcement goals”, said Ty Petersburg, CPW’s Chief of Law Enforcement. “CPW was proud to be a part of bringing down a prolific wildlife poacher, and working hand in hand with Special Agents of the USFWS. It’s the successful collaboration between CPW Officers and Investigators, Special Agents, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office that resulted in the prosecution of this case. The health of our wildlife populations is based on a legacy of ethical hunting, so people who hunt unlawfully have a negative impact on our natural resources. Our Wildlife Officers are very committed to catching violators and protecting those resources.”

For more information on how to report poaching in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/hunting/poaching-and-operation-game-thief