The Brief

Braden Tahkeal, a Yakima County man, was sentenced to two weeks in jail for first-degree unlawful wildlife trafficking, with the possibility of home confinement.

The sentencing follows a years-long investigation by Fish & Wildlife agents, who received a tip in 2020 about Tahkeal's involvement in trafficking elk via black market chat groups, selling them for $800–$1,000.

Tahkeal must also pay $2,000 in restitution to the Yakama Nation and $5,000 to WDFW.

YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. - A Yakima County man was sentenced on Oct. 23 to two weeks in jail for trafficking elk, possibly through the black market.

According to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, 52-year-old Braden Tahkeal was sentenced last Thursday for a felony count of first-degree unlawful wildlife trafficking

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