NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- A 50-year-old Colorado man was sentenced on Friday to two years probation for violating the Lacey Act. 

The Acting U.S. Attorney said that Michael Ban was sentenced in federal court in Lincoln for violations of the Lacey Act. 

Ban was sentenced to two years of probation for unlawful transportation of wildlife in interstate commerce. 

He was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $5,000 and to pay restitution in the amount of $4,000.

The court said that as part of his probation terms, Ban shall not hunt, fish, trap, provide guiding or outfitting services, or assist or be present with anyone engaged in those activities for one year. 

There was a joint investigation done by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Law Enforcement Division determined that in September of 2019 found that Ban had traveled to Nebraska to do an archery hunt of a mule deer.

The court said that during the hunt, Ban had unlawfully shot a mule deer in Lincoln County. Following the hunt, he had taken a taxidermied shoulder mount including parts of the unlawfully taken trophy deer back to his home in Colorado. 

In a plea agreement that was accepted by the Court and admitted by Ban, the investigation showed that in the fall of 2019, Ban had traveled to Noble Outdoors in North Platte, to hunt a mule deer during the archery season. 

While hunting, Ban unlawfully shot a mule deer buck with 5x5 antlers in velvet without a valid deer permit. It was also during closed season hours around 11:12 p.m. on Sept. 6, 2019.

Court documents said that while guided and accompanied by the owner of Noble Outdoors, Ban bought a Nebraska Non-resident Archery Deer Permit the next day to conceal that he had taken the deer without a permit. 

According to officials, under Nebraska state law, hunters are required to possess a valid permit and habitat stamp before hunting or taking mule deer. Hunters are also only authorized to hunt only during the legal shooting hours from 30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset.