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<\/p>\nThe California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are proud to recognize two outstanding prosecutorial partners\u00a0\u2013\u00a0San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Michael McCann and San Luis Obispo County Deputy District Attorney Ken Jorgensen\u00a0\u2013 as 2025 Wildlife Prosecutors of the Year.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth honorees have\u00a0demonstrated\u00a0exceptional leadership,\u00a0collaboration\u00a0and dedication\u00a0in\u00a0safeguarding California\u2019s natural resources,\u201d said Commission President Eric Sklar.\u00a0\u201cIt is a privilege to jointly recognize these deserving prosecutors with our primary partner agency, CDFW.\u201d<\/p>\n
California\u2019s expansive border region, major seaports, diverse\u00a0ecosystems,\u00a0and native wildlife and fisheries face constant pressure from\u00a0poachers,\u00a0wildlife traffickers, environmental\u00a0crimes\u00a0and chronic violators. This year\u2019s award recipients have played pivotal roles in strengthening wildlife and environmental enforcement through innovative legal strategy, field\u00a0partnership\u00a0and unwavering commitment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDeputy District Attorneys Michael McCann and Ken Jorgensen exemplify what true partnership in wildlife protection looks like.\u00a0Their commitment, legal\u00a0expertise\u00a0and willingness to work\u00a0hand\u00a0in\u00a0hand\u00a0with our officers have directly strengthened California\u2019s ability to confront wildlife trafficking, environmental\u00a0crimes\u00a0and chronic violations,\u201d\u00a0said Nathaniel Arnold, CDFW Deputy Director and Chief of the Law Enforcement Division. \u201cTheir work protects not only our natural resources but the integrity of the systems that safeguard them. CDFW is proud to honor their exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to conservation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy District Attorney Michael McCann \u2013 San Diego County\u00a0<\/p>\n
McCann is recognized for his critical role in a\u00a0nearly two-year\u00a0investigation into an underground trafficking ring dealing in exotic,\u00a0venomous\u00a0and restricted species. The case originated when CDFW investigators\u00a0identified\u00a0a social media seller offering restricted wildlife, including\u00a0Morelet\u2019s\u00a0crocodiles\u00a0that\u00a0are native to\u00a0parts of\u00a0Mexico,\u00a0Belize\u00a0and\u00a0Guatemala.\u00a0McCann\u00a0immediately\u00a0committed resources, including two\u00a0district\u00a0attorney investigators, to support the operation.<\/p>\n
The investigation revealed a criminal network trafficking caimans, Gila monsters, snapping turtles, palm pit\u00a0vipers\u00a0and Komodo Island pit vipers across the San Ysidro border crossing\u00a0\u2013\u00a0posing significant threats to California\u2019s biodiversity. McCann reviewed\u00a0numerous\u00a0warrants,\u00a0provided\u00a0around-the-clock legal\u00a0guidance\u00a0and drew on his narcotics prosecution\u00a0expertise\u00a0to help navigate evidence of firearm and drug trafficking uncovered during the operation.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Michael McCann\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
When officers executing a residential warrant discovered evidence of\u00a0additional\u00a0crimes, McCann swiftly\u00a0facilitated\u00a0an expedited secondary warrant, ensuring the investigation moved forward without delay. He coordinated with CDFW\u2019s Office of General Counsel, the Orange County District Attorney\u2019s Office and defense counsel to\u00a0maintain\u00a0a clear and effective prosecution plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The case resulted in multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including illegal wildlife sales, illegal firearms\u00a0possession\u00a0and possession for sale of controlled substances. McCann successfully negotiated a global plea agreement spanning San Diego and Orange counties,\u00a0halting the spread of unlawfully\u00a0possessed\u00a0wildlife and disrupting a sophisticated trafficking network. Evidence from the case continues to support\u00a0additional\u00a0investigations.\u00a0CDFW leadership describes McCann as an invaluable ally whose tenacity and professionalism have significantly advanced the state\u2019s ability to combat wildlife trafficking.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOn behalf of myself and the San Diego District Attorney\u2019s Office, it is a privilege to work with the hard-working men and women of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.\u202f Your professionalism, dedication and commitment to justice is exemplary throughout our state,\u201d McCann said. \u201cMy office and I are honored to receive this award,\u00a0which was truly a team effort led by\u00a0CDFW’s Lt.\u00a0Garrett Smittle and his colleagues who worked countless hours to prevent the trafficking of venomous\u00a0protected reptiles, the sale of drugs, the transfer of assault weapons\u00a0and child endangerment.\u202f We\u00a0sincerely thank\u00a0you for everything you do in protecting California\u2019s wildlife, natural\u00a0resources\u00a0and habitat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy District Attorney Ken Jorgensen \u2013 San Luis Obispo County\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jorgensen is honored for his exceptional skill, strategic leadership and transformative impact on wildlife and environmental enforcement in San Luis Obispo County. His partnership with CDFW has produced measurable progress in addressing commercial fishing violations that had historically gone under-prosecuted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
One key case involved a commercial\u00a0fisherman\u00a0with a 15-year pattern of violations, resulting in a $12,500 fine and five years of probation\u00a0\u2013\u00a0reinforcing that persistent noncompliance will be met with meaningful consequences.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a legal\u00a0climate where\u00a0fish and wildlife\u00a0violations are commonly granted judicial diversion\u00a0(a process where\u00a0violators\u00a0resolve their case by completing court-ordered requirements rather than\u00a0receiving\u00a0a\u00a0criminal conviction),\u00a0Jorgensen has strengthened enforcement by strategically pursuing civil actions when\u00a0appropriate. He resolved two high-impact, unlawful guiding cases this year, achieving settlements\u00a0nearly equal\u00a0to illicit profits, securing permanent\u00a0injunctions\u00a0and ensuring portions of penalties remained local\u00a0to support conservation through the San Luis Obispo County Fish and Game Commission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jorgensen\u2019s persistence is especially\u00a0evident\u00a0in a multi-year case involving the unlawful destruction of habitat for the endangered Pismo\u00a0clarkia, an annual herb that grows in central California.\u00a0Despite complex biological evidence, shifting personnel\u00a0and evasive suspects, he led a coordinated,\u00a0multiagency search warrant and crafted a creative legal strategy combining\u00a0fish and\u00a0wildlife statutes with Business and Professions Code authorities. The result was a landmark 2025 settlement totaling $165,350 and permanent injunctions preventing further habitat destruction and pollution.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations to Ken on this prestigious award,\u201d said San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow. \u201cI am very proud of the outstanding work he has done alongside our entire Environmental Enforcement team. Ken\u2019s professionalism and pursuit of excellence are invaluable assets when it comes to safeguarding our natural resources and serving our great community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond casework, Jorgensen has strengthened regional environmental enforcement by\u00a0establishing\u00a0quarterly interagency roundtable meetings, expanding information\u00a0sharing and best practices across\u00a0jurisdictions. His participation in field operations and marine patrol ride-alongs\u00a0further\u00a0demonstrates\u00a0his commitment to understanding the challenges faced by wildlife officers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Commission and CDFW proudly recognize\u00a0McCann and Jorgensen for their extraordinary service, innovative legal\u00a0leadership\u00a0and vital contributions to protecting California\u2019s fish,\u00a0wildlife\u00a0and natural habitats.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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CDFW Photo: Members of the California Fish and Game Commission stand with Wildlife Prosecutor of the Year Ken Jorgensen.<\/p>\n
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Media Contacts:\u00a0
Kory Collins<\/a>, CDFW Law Enforcement Division, (310) 944-8182\u00a0
Peter Tira<\/a>,\u00a0CDFW Communications, (916)\u00a0215-3858\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are proud…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":367688,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7,9,8,10872,734,150150],"class_list":["post-370396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-environmental-protection","tag-law-enforcement","tag-prosecutors-of-the-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=370396"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/370396\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/367688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=370396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=370396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}