An Anchorage Grand Jury handed down indictments for an Alaskan big game hunter and three of his Canadian clients on Friday according to acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Feldis.

64-year-old Haines resident John Katzeek, employed as a big game guide in the state of Alaska, was indicted on nine counts that included conspiracy, filing false documents that concealed illegal guided hunts, the taking of wildlife and smuggling.

Three others, 54-year-old Brian Hicken, 49-year-old Kenneth Cox, and 22-year-old Tyler Antal, all of Alberta, Canada, were also indicted on charges of conspiracy and false documents.

The guided hunts and the hunts referred to in the indictments occurred between October, 2010 and November, 2011. According to the indictments, Mountain Goats were illegally taken and transported in violation of several laws, then the goat’s horns and hides were illegally exported to Canada by the four in violation of the Lacey Act.

Also the indictments handed down concerned two alleged illegal trophy Dall Sheep importations that took place between December 2008 and March of 2009 and in 2010. It was during 2008 and 2009 that Katzeek and another individual used false documents to smuggle sheep horns in the U.S. from Canada. In 2010, Katzeek did the same thing with another trophy sheep.

The indictments of the four were that result of an extensive investigation carried out by Canadian Crown prosecutors in Alberta and the Yukon territory as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Dervice, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Environment Canada, Yukon Conservation officers, Alberta Fish and Game, Parks Canada, the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service, and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. That investigation ultimately brought charges against 17 individuals for a total of 55 violations.

Arraignment in Alaska on the charges have not yet been set. Canadian trial are set for the fall of 2013. The maximum sentence for conspiracy and violation of the Lacey Act is 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for smuggling is 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.