Four out of nine individuals who pled guilty to illegal wildlife purchase as part of a sweep of illegal fox penning in Virginia were charged with purchasing wildlife illegally in Buckingham and Prince Edward counties.

A license for a fox pen in Buckingham was also revoked due to the sweep, a release from the office of Attorney Gen. Mark Herring cited. Charges for three of the four individuals were initially classified as Class 6 felonies, but were later amended to misdemeanors, court records cited.

Christopher Powell, 40, of Prospect, according to court documents, pled guilty to two separate misdemeanor charges of purchasing wildlife in Prince Edward and Appomattox counties.

“For each of the charges, Powell was sentenced to 12 months with 12 months suspended for five years, no involvement with fox-penning for five years, had his trapping license revoked for 10 years and has to forfeit the money used to purchase wildlife to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF),” the release cited.

Herman and Ricky Burnley, of Wingina, also pled guilty to misdemeanor charges related to illegal wildlife purchase.

Herman, 29, pled guilty to three separate misdemeanor charges of purchasing wildlife in Buckingham, Prince Edward and Powhatan counties. He was sentenced to 12 months with 12 months suspended for five years and is prohibited from any involvement with fox-penning for five years for each charge, the release cited.

Ricky, 33, pled guilty to two separate misdemeanor purchase of wildlife charges in Buckingham and Prince Edward counties. For each charge, Ricky was sentenced to 12 months with 12 months suspended for five years, is prohibited from any involvement with fox-penning and had his trapping license revoked for 10 years, the release cited.

Christopher Harrison, 44, of Jarratt, pled guilty to one felony charge of purchasing wildlife in Prince Edward County and “was sentenced to five years with five years suspended for seven years and no involvement with fox pens for seven years,” the release cited.

“Additionally, Harrison pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of operating an illegal fox pen and one felony count of conspiracy to purchase wildlife in Sussex County and was sentenced to five years with five years suspended for five years and no involvement with fox penning for seven years,” the release cited.

Others charged were Brandon Scott McGee, of Powhatan; Joseph Lewis, of Dinwiddie; John Tucker, of Dinwiddie; Robert Verlander, of Gloucester and Sherry Lynn Hurt, of Gloucester.

Permit holders at fox pens had licenses revoked after finding illegally-purchased wildlife, including Turpin’s Creek Fox Run in Buckingham. The permit holders have been instructed to allow the wildlife to leave by DGIF, the release cited.

J&M Foxhound Training Preserve in Dinwiddie, and Midway Foxhound Training Preserve in King and Queen were surrendered to the DGIF and will no longer operate as fox pens.

Permit holders at Ivy Bluff Fox Pen in Lunenburg, Joe’s Foxhound Training Preserve in Brunswick and Hollywood Foxhound Training Preserve in Appomattox have had their licenses revoked and have been instructed to allow the wildlife to leave by DGIF.