OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – In addition to facing charges for allegedly lying to investigators, DNR sturgeon biologist Ryan Koenigs also faces a misdemeanor theft charge related to an investigation into sturgeon eggs and caviar processing.
While legal to pay someone to process sturgeon eggs into caviar, it is illegal to barter or trade such services for a portion of the product. So far, at least three processors face misdemeanor criminal charges for keeping a portion of the caviar after processing it for others.
Koenigs faces an obstruction charge in Calumet County for allegedly lying about his activities. An April 19 initial appearance is scheduled in that matter.
He also has been charged in Winnebago County with theft. A March 9 initial appearance is scheduled.
According to the criminal complaint:
The sale, trade, or barter of any part of a Lake Sturgeon is prohibited The investigation revealed that a number of citizens were making caviar for others, and were accepting sturgeon roe or finished caviar in exchange for their services, which is an illegal barter. The investigation further revealed a concerted effort to funnel sturgeon roe to particular processors for caviar production by DNR staff. This included the illegal transfer of roe that had been collected from successful sturgeon spearers for the purpose of research, and was given to a few specific processors to make caviar, for the benefit of the caviar processors, DNR employees, and individuals connected to them” the complaint states.
Koenigs allegedly allowed former DNR staff member Arthur Techlow after access to DNR offices “to take possession of sturgeon roe that had been collected by the DNR for research purposes, and pursuant to DNR policy were to be either returned to the spearers that harvested them, or destroyed. The sturgeon roe would have been the property of the State of Wisconsin, and policies were in place indicating that the roe could not be transferred to someone else or utilized for personal gain. Techlow would use the roe to produce caviar, and Koenigs would then receive some of the finished product back from Techlow for his own personal use, and for the benefit of other DNR employees.
Another former DNR staffer, Bob Olynyk, who still assists with the registration process, said “eggs would be collected from spearers for research purposes, and that if they did not want them back, DNR staff would have them made into caviar. Olynyk said that eggs were solicited with the intention of having them made into caviar,” the complaint says.
Although the investigation started with activities in 2017, it was apparently nothing new.
“This sort of arrangement had been established prior to Koenigs taking over a leadership role, and continued under Koenigs, despite a warning from DNR wardens in 2011 that DNR fisheries staff needed to be disposing of eggs or returning them to the spearer after research was completed,” the complaint states.
Koenigs’ predecessor as sturgeon supervisor, Ron Bruch, said he was also involved in the barter for eggs from processors, according to the complaint.
Bruch, Techlow and Olynyk have not been charged.
Koenigs has been placed on administrative leave by the DNR.
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