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News Release

Undercover Poaching Investigation Nets Multiple Charges in Page, Rockingham counties

Richmond, VA — Conservation police officers with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) are making arrests after concluding a six-month undercover investigation into spotlighting deer and other wildlife crime violations in Page and Rockingham counties. The investigation stemmed from numerous calls from the public reporting poaching activities on both private lands and National forest lands in the Runkles Gap/Cub Run area along the Page and Rockingham county line and in the Pitt Springs/Newport area of Page County. These areas have experienced significant illegal activity frustrating local residents and hunters.

VDGIF Director Bob Duncan commented, "We appreciate the reports we received from the public that lead to this investigation, and appreciate their patience while our law enforcement officers worked this case."

VDGIF conservation police officers using special operations techniques made numerous arrests in that area in the past year and the determination was made to have a VDGIF undercover officer infiltrate an illegal deer killing ring identified through those efforts. As the undercover investigation progressed, many drug violations were also discovered. Drug violations include the manufacture (growing) of marijuana, the sale of marijuana, the sale of methadone, the sale of methamphetamine, and the possession of methamphetamine. The investigation resulted in 13 felony charges (three in Page County and 10 in Rockingham County) and approximately 150 misdemeanor charges.

According to Colonel Dabney W. Watts, Jr., chief of VDGIF's Law Enforcement Division, "When enforcing hunting, fishing and boating laws and regulations, our conservation police officers at times encounter drug and alcohol violations and they have the full police authority to bring charges."

The evidence was presented to the Grand Jury on Monday, March 17, 2008, and on Tuesday the Grand Jury returned true bills on all charges.

Individuals charged with felonies included:

Robert Jason May, age 35, of Page County, charged with two counts of furnishing a firearm to a convicted felon.

Nathan Scott May, age 23, of Rockingham County, charged with manufacturing marijuana and possession of methamphetamine.

Justin Matthew Dean, age 25, of Rockingham County, charged with three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and sale of methadone.

Steven Lee Shifflett, age 34, of Rockingham County, charged with sale of methamphetamine.

Kenneth Ray Morris, age 31, of Rockingham County, charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Gregory Michael Knight, age 36, of Page County, charged with three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

It is the mission of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth; to provide opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating, and related outdoor recreation; and to promote safety for persons and property in connection with these outdoor activities. VDGIF's law enforcement personnel patrol the Commonwealth every day. They are on the waters, in the woods, and on the roadways.

Conservation police officers, originally called game wardens, have been serving in law enforcement in Virginia since 1903, when the Virginia General Assembly established a statewide system of game wardens to enforce wildlife laws. The title "game warden" was officially changed to "conservation police officer" by the Virginia General Assembly in 2007.

In today's more urban Virginia, conservation police officer's work often intersects with mainstream law enforcement. In the course of performing duties related to the agency mission — enforcing wildlife, fisheries and boating laws — conservation police are now dealing with situations requiring immediate police intervention, such as drivers under the influence, reckless drivers, drug and gang activities, homeland security issues and frequent assistance to other law enforcement agencies.

For more information on VDGIF and conservation police officers, visit the Department's Web site at www.dgif.virginia.gov.