Killing and selling endangered animals for meat - Chicago, IL

Wednesday, Mar 25, 1998

County: Cook

Disposition: Convicted

Defendants/Suspects:
» William R. Kapp
» Kevin W. Ramsey
» Steven Galecki
» Robert Martinez
» David C. Woldman
» Richard J Czimer, Jr
» Timothy R. Laurie
» Todd H. Lantz
» Vicky L. Lantz
» Freddy M. Wilmoth
» George F. Riley
» Stoney Ray Elam
» Timothy Dale Rivers
» Leonard A. Kruszewski - Alleged
» Woody Thompson, Jr
» William Donald Foshee

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

William Kapp, a 37 year old Will County corrections officer, is charged with killing endangered leopards and tigers to sell their body parts.

In October 1998, Timothy Dale Rivers brought a tiger, a liger and two mountain lions, according to authorities. The animals were purchased by Bill Kapp, of Tinley Park, who shot and killed the two mountain lions in Cape Girardeau, then hauled the carcasses along with the liger and tiger to Czimer's Game and Sea Food, an exotic meat market.

The indictment alleges that Kapp and Galecki conspired between Aug. 7 and 21, 1997, to purchase live endangered animals, shoot and kill them or cause them to be shot and killed by others, and to sell the hides for mounts and trophies and the meat for human consumption. On Aug. 7, 1997, Kapp and Galecki, together with Ramsey and Martinez, shot and killed an endangered leopard that was confined to a cage at the Funky Monkey Animal Park in Crete, Ill., which was owned and operated by Galecki. On Aug. 21, Kapp and Galecki caused two endangered tigers to be shot and killed at the animal park while they were in a trailer, according to the indictment. The hides and skulls of these animals were then sold to others, including Martinez and Woldman, and the carcasses and meat were sold Czimer and his business with the understanding they would be processed and re-sold to the public for human consumption.

Kapp and his attorney, Scott T. Kamin, have not denied he killed and sold tigers, but they say the animals he shot were hybrids and not covered under the Endangered Species Act. Kamin had asked the court to throw out Kapp's indictment based on that argument.

Richard Czimer also pleaded guilty on behalf of his business to a separate count of violating federal endangered species laws. He agreed to pay $116,000 to the Save the Tiger Fund, and faces a sentence that ranges from probation to 18 months in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for June 27. In pleading guilty, Czimer agreed to testify against Kapp.

Prosecutors say the group bought, sold and killed endangered leopards and tigers, selling their pelts to wealthy collectors and their meat to a Lockport butcher. Those who have pleaded guilty have described grisly killings, including a March 25, 1998, incident in which eight tigers were shot and skinned inside a warehouse in Alsip, the largest documented slaughter of endangered tigers in U.S. history.

Kapp, who participated in that 1998 incident, has repeatedly argued that he broke no laws. His argument is simple: The tigers and leopards he killed were mixed breeds and therefore not considered endangered, making them legal to kill.

"They're hybrids, they're not federally protected," said Kapp's attorney, Scott Kamin, who said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed its policies in 1998, removing cross-bred tigers - the offspring of different tiger subspecies-from the endangered species list.

"They've sort of left a loophole, sort of like a tax loophole," Kamin said. "That's how I see it."

Many legal experts disagree, saying Kapp and Kamin have misread the law and that the leopards and tigers Kapp killed were endangered.

"They're all still protected," said Gerry Brady, director of the Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Mich., who coordinates the breeding and management of Sumatran tigers for North American zoos. "The law covers all tigers."

A 12-person jury and two alternates were selected late Tuesday, but one juror called in sick before the trial started Wednesday. Six people from the original 54-person jury pool were called back Thursday, but several--thinking they had not been selected for the jury--went home and read news reports about the case, essentially disqualifying them.

Case Updates

in 1999 Steven Galecki and Corinne Broz, owners of "Funky Monkey Exotics" in Crete, IL were charged with failure to provide veterinary care for sick or injured animals and using an improper euthanasia method. Also charged with failing 1. to keep premises clean and in good repair 2. establish and maintain an effective program for the control of pests 3. make a responsible party available during business hours on 4 separate occassions for the purpose of inspection.

Update posted on Nov 26, 2003 - 6:58AM

William Kapp, was sentenced to a maximum 4 years and 3 months in jail for his part in the slaughtering and stuffing of endaged tigers and leopards. He was also fined $5000 on 11/14/03.

Update posted on Nov 26, 2003 - 6:22AM

A jury of seven men and five women convicted him in federal court on 17 of 19 counts that accused him of trading in and selling the endangered animals. (April 3, 2003) More...

Update posted on Apr 4, 2003 - 8:29AM

References

• Chicago Tribune
• 
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