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AUSTIN, Texas - Two men have been sentenced to federal prison for illegally transporting white-tailed deer across state lines, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said Tuesday.

The deer were transported from Minnesota to Texas for trophy hunts.
A federal district judge in Plano on Monday sentenced Robert Eichenour, owner of Circle E Ranch in Bedias in Grimes County, to 1 1/2 years in prison. He must also serve three years probation after his release and pay a $50,000 fine.

Brian Becker of Madelia, Minn., was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years probation.

Both men were convicted of felony violations of the federal Lacey Act, which prohibits the transportation of illegally captured or prohibited animals across state lines.

During the probation period, neither man will be allowed to sell deer.

The department said in a news release that Eichenour and Becker were caught smuggling 14 white-tailed buck deer from Minnesota to Eichenour's ranch. Investigators say the plan was for Eichenour to bring in hunters and sell hunts for the trophy Minnesota bucks. The investigation found that over a four-year period, the two smuggled in about $300,000 worth of white-tailed bucks.

The men were caught in an October 2006 smuggling sting operation Texas Parks and Wildlife conducted along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife agents.