The Lacey Act creates both civil and criminal liability. The sentence a person or organization will receive depends upon their degree of culpability, with the law making a distinction between people who accidentally broke the Lacey Act and those who knowingly broke the law. If your livelihood depends on hunting or operating as an outfitter, the consequences for your business can be devastating:
The maximum civil penalty for an individual is $10,000.
The maximum misdemeanor penalty for an individual is a fine of up to $100,000 and/or up to one year imprisonment (the misdemeanor penalty for an organization is a $200,000 fine).
The maximum felony penalty for an individual is five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 (the felony penalty is $500,000 for an organization).
Hunters and outfitters convicted under the Lacey Act can have their hunting licenses or licenses to operate taken away and their equipment forfeited for a lengthy period of time.