An Ohio deer processor pleaded guilty to multiple wildlife violations, including the unlawful sale of venison, much of which was donated and intended for food pantries. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) called the investigation “Operation Donor Deer” which resulted in 35 people convicted of 55 violations.

According to a media release from the ODNR, Rodney Shields, 59, of Harrisville, Ohio, owner of Rod’s Custom Deer Processing, pleaded guilty to seven charges in Harrison County Common Pleas Court, including felony counts of obstructing justice, theft by deception, and illegal sales, as well as three misdemeanor charges for theft and one for possession of untagged deer. He was ordered to pay $16,500 in restitution to be divided among the victims whose venison was stolen and sold, and the ODNR, and serve 17 months of suspended jail time and two years of community control.

Other defendants in the case included Robert Sliva, 66, of Harrisville, and Thomas Bibeau, 53, of Deerfield, New Hampshire. Sliva pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors for illegal sale of wild animals, failure to keep accurate records, and possession of untagged deer parts. He was ordered to pay a $500 fine as well as court costs, complete one year of probation, and serve 30 days in jail, suspended. Bibeau pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for failing to properly complete the game check process. He was ordered to pay a $500 fine and court costs, complete one year of probation, forfeit his hunting license for one year, and serve 60 days in jail, suspended.

Defendants received a total of $6,313 in fines, eight years of hunting license suspensions, and 24 months of suspended jail time.

View the full ODNR media release here.