Kern, whose Virgina-based company The Hunting Consortium booked the trip, said he did not know it was against Russian law to harvest animals from above. The federal Lacey Act prohibits importing wildlife that was knowingly taken in violation of another country's laws.
Kern faces up to five years in prison if convicted, the Houston Chronicle reported in a story Tuesday.
He said in court Monday that his company bribed Russian government officials for his big-game adventures. His testimony came after federal prosecutors presented expense sheets from Kern's company that include a line for bribes.
Kern said that the "fluff payments" help underpaid government workers and benefit his customers. He said the bribes amounted to "tips" to overcome false claims by airline workers or to force customs agent to correct serial numbers on intentionally misprinted gun permits.
Last week, Duncan and other hunters testified they believed the outing was legal because the meat was destined for a Russian children's school. Russia makes exceptions to its hunting-from-above laws for economic purposes, and Kern's attorneys had a Russian government official testify in court to back up those claims.
Kern said he didn't import the trophies or cause them to come into the United States. He said another hunter handled the importation and had the proper license to do so through Houston.
"I believed it then and I believe it today that these trophies were legally taken," Kern said. "Immorally, unfairly, but not illegally."
Jurors were expected to begin deliberations after closing arguments Tuesday. Kern's company, which is also charged in the indictment, faces criminal penalties if found guilty.
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