DEP Environmental Conservation Police Arrest Four In Poaching Ring in Kent

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Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police arrested four New York residents this weekend on several charges related to illegal wild turkey hunting in the area around Cobble Rd. in Kent.

Working with information they had developed on the illegal hunting ring, EnCon Police set up a surveillance operation Saturday that led to the arrest of the three men and one woman.

Over the past year, EnCon Police officers had determined that an organized group of poachers was illegally killing a significant number of deer and wild turkey in northwestern Connecticut.  Information was developed that the poachers were being dropped off by a vehicle which would return to pick them up once they had illegally killed deer and turkey.

On Saturday EnCon Police officers stopped the transport vehicle and driver and then entered a nearby wooded area and apprehended the other three poachers involved in the violations. They were able to determine that the three were linked to the transport vehicle and driver.

Upon being interviewed by EnCon Police officers, the suspects readily admitted to having killed numerous deer and turkey in Connecticut over the past year.  They admitted that with the aid of a turkey call they would sometimes shoot turkey from their vehicle.

When the suspects were arrested a video camera was found in their possession and seized along with their firearms and hunting equipment.  The suspects admitted to videotaping their illegal activities and said they were hoping to supply the footage to a hunting show available on cable television.

• Michael M. Milano, 33, of 1133 Midland Ave. Bronxville, NY.  Milano was charged with Negligent Hunting 4^th degree; 2 counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd degree and Illegal Turkey hunting. Officers determined that Milano was a convicted felon and could not legally possess a firearm. As a result, Milan was also charged with Criminal Possession of a firearm.
• Anthony S. Finacchiaro, 32 of 70 Entranceway E.  Purdys, NY.  Finacchiaro was charged with Negligent Hunting 4th degree; 2 counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd degree and Illegal turkey hunting.
• Laura Finacchiaro, 25 of 70 Entranceway E.  Purdys, NY.  Finacchiaro (wife of Anthony Finacchiaro) was charged with Negligent Hunting 4th degree; 2 counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd degree and Illegal turkey hunting.
• Robert Zach, 27 of   407 Eagles Ridge Rd. Brewster, NY.  Zach was charged with 2 counts of Illegal turkey hunting and 2 counts of Criminal Trespass 3rd degree.    

All four of the suspects were released after posting bond and are due in court at Bantam Superior Court on June 1.

Those arrested were:

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