State sturgeon biologist resigns following investigation
CHILTON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s former top sturgeon biologist has resigned and has been fined for lying to investigators looking into the illegal processing of sturgeon eggs into caviar.
Ryan Koenigs earlier pleaded no contest to resisting a conservation warden in Calumet County. He was fined $500 in court Thursday, WLUK-TV reported. .
Koenigs resigned from the Department of Natural Resources Thursday morning, according to his attorney.
The criminal complaint alleges Koenigs’ statements in an in interview last year didn’t match phone records and other DNR documents.
An investigation revealed that Koenigs and other DNR employees would allegedly collect eggs from spearers, telling them they were for research purposes.