A Montana Resident Convicted for Crafting Sizable Franken-Sheep Faces Six-Month Incarceration
A Montana man with an unusual obsession finds himself behind bars for his audacious plan to create genetic monstrosities.
Jack Schubarth, the Montana resident in question, was handed a six-month prison sentence and slapped with a $24,200 fine last Monday. The whole saga revolved around the importation and cloning of an endangered, and illegal, species of central Asian sheep, famously known as the Marco Polo argali (Ovis ammon polii). This species, native to the mountains of central and western Asia, is the largest sheep in the world. With males reaching a whopping 300 pounds (136 kilograms) and boasting horns that stretch to five feet (1.5 meters), it's no wonder humans have made them the stuff of legends.
Schubarth's schemes, however, were far beyond the dream of creating a line of luxurious wool sweaters. Instead, the Montana man had aspired to create a new breed of even more gigantic sheep, primarily for the sake of their impressive size and to later kill them.
Contrary to popular belief, cloning animals in the United States is not prohibited by law. Instead, Schubarth's misdeeds were centered around the acquisition and circulation of the genetic material used for cloning. In March, the shrewd schemer pleaded guilty to two felonies: conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and substantial violation of the Lacey Act. Enacted in 1900, this federal law regulates the importation of wildlife that could pose a threat to human beings, agriculture, or the native wildlife of the United States.
Montana Man Pleads Guilty to Creating Massive Franken-Sheep With Cloned Animal Parts
The Justice Department revealed that Schubarth, along with at least five accomplices, had smuggled parts of Marx Polo specimens into the US from Kyrgyzstan without proper documentation. One of these unnamed conspirators was likely Schubarth's own son, who had traveled to Kyrgyzstan in 2013, reportedly killed an argali sheep, and brought back some vital tissue for cloning. From 2013 to 2021, the group collaborated on creating cloned embryos utilizing this tissue, resulting in the birth of a single, male argali sheep, which Schubarth named Montana Mountain King, or MMK.
Schubarth and his cohorts then harvested semen from MMK, which they utilized to impregnate females of other exotic and illegal sheep species, creating hybrids. The objective was to create a new species of even more substantial sheep for captive hunting facilities, primarily in Texas.
Incredibly enough, Schubarth's plan seemed to be moving forward until he was caught. The colossal mutton creatures were frequently transported in and out of Montana, disguised with forged veterinary inspection certificates. Schubarth also traded MMK semen with other breeders in various states, resulting in twelve illegal sales.
Lacey Act and substantively violating the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act, enacted in 1900, regulates the importation of wildlife that could be harmful to human beings, agriculture, or native wildlife of the United States.
"This was not a spontaneous or one-time crime," stated prosecutors in the sentencing memo. "It was a premeditated, planned crime that Schubarth undertook, aware that his actions were breaching state and federal law."
"Schubarth, along with others, violated federal and state law and international treaties, concealing their actions from law enforcement," explained Todd Kim, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department. "Violations of the Lacey Act, CITES, and other regulations can be devastating for the native wildlife population of the US, and we remain resolute in enforcing these regulations."
If you're curious as to why Marco Polo sheep are banned in the US, the Justice Department specified that Schubarth's scheme potentially exposed native sheep populations to contagious diseases, such as Johne's disease. Two sheep identified as belonging to the timeframe Schubarth's ruthless activities took place ultimately died from the contagious wasting disease.
announcing the sentencing, Schubarth, along with at least five other people, had imported parts of Marco Polo specimens into the U.S. from Kyrgyzstan, without declaring them. One of those unnamed conspirators may have been Schubarth’s son. According to a sentencing
References:1. “Montana Man Pleads Guilty to Creating Franken-Sheep with Cloned Animal Parts”2. Justice Department Press Release3. “Regulations on Cloning Endangered Animal Species” Enrichment Data
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- Jack Schubarth's fascination with science and technology led him to experiment with cloning, but his actions resulted in breaking laws related to the importation and protection of wildlife.
- The future of technology in animal cloning could be impacted by cases like Schubarth's, as authorities may tighten regulations to prevent similar misuses.
- Despite the fine and prison sentence, Schubarth's actions had already resulted in the creation of a large, cloned Marco Polo argali sheep, potentially furthering the demand for genetically modified animals.
- Mobile_pos1 was likely used by Schubarth or his accomplices to communicate or coordinate their activities, potentially providing investigators with crucial evidence for the case.
