FBI reviews complaint about BLM horse roundup in Nevada; no decision on opening investigation
By Scott Sonner, APWednesday, June 23, 2010
FBI reviews complaint about BLM wild horse roundup
RENO, Nev. — The FBI is reviewing a Las Vegas woman’s claim that U.S. land managers broke a federal law protecting wild horses when they removed nearly 2,000 mustangs from public rangeland in Nevada about six months ago.
FBI Special Agent Joseph Dickey confirmed Wednesday they received a formal request for an investigation earlier this week from Cindy MacDonald, a horse protection advocate who has challenged roundups before.
She claims the Bureau of Land Management gathered far more horses than allowed during the roundup in the Calico mountains about 200 miles north of Reno.
Dickey says the FBI takes all complaints seriously. He tells The Associated Press they are evaluating her claims and should make a decision in the coming days on whether to open a formal investigation.
