An 80-year-old man from Montana, Arthur "Jack" Schubarth, has pleaded guilty to two felony wildlife crimes related to his extensive efforts to create giant hybrid sheep using cloning and illegal insemination, federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

Schubarth's aim was to develop these hybrid sheep as targets for hunters at private facilities, a scheme that contravened both international and federal laws, as stated by Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. Kim described the endeavor as an audacious plot to create massive hybrid sheep species for sale and hunting trophies.

Schubarth, who is the owner of a 215-acre alternative livestock ranch in Montana, had conspired with multiple individuals since 2013 to breed a large hybrid species of sheep to be sold to game ranches, according to officials. In violation of international law, Schubarth imported parts of the protected Marco Polo argali sheep from Kyrgyzstan into the United States without declaring the importation. The Marco Polo argali sheep is safeguarded under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and is also protected domestically by the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Moreover, in Montana, this species is specifically prohibited to protect native sheep from disease and hybridization.

Prosecutors stated that Schubarth sent the genetic material from the argali parts to a laboratory to create cloned embryos. In 2015, he provided a deposit of $4,200 for the cloning process and, on November 22, 2016, received 165 cloned Marco Polo embryos. Schubarth then implanted these embryos in ewes on his ranch, leading to the birth of a single, pure genetic male Marco Polo argali sheep called "Montana Mountain King" or MMK.

Officials have revealed that Montana Mountain King's semen was utilized to artificially impregnate various other sheep, resulting in the creation of hybrid animals. The ultimate goal was to breed larger and more valuable sheep for hunting purposes. To facilitate the transportation of the prohibited sheep in and out of Montana, Schubarth and his co-conspirators allegedly forged veterinary inspection certificates. Additionally, the accused sold Montana Mountain King's semen directly to other breeders.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Chief of Enforcement Ron Howell expressed concern over the discovered crime, stating that such actions could potentially threaten the integrity of Montana's wildlife species. Howel acknowledged the significance of the collaboration between Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in solving this complex case.

Schubarth now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each felony count. In addition, he may be subject to a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. The 80-year-old man is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11th.