Massive Win!!! – Poachers Convicted in Twin Falls County Idaho

A several year investigation by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has ended with numerous convictions.  The investigation began in 2022 and was highlighted by 115 charges (81 felonies) amongst 12 different defendants. 

Earlier this year, several of the defendants, Austin Zeko, Brian George, and Bobby George took plea deals involving this case.  Austin pleaded to three misdemeanor charges in exchange for two felonies being dropped.  He received a suspended 90-day jail sentence, unsupervised 3-month probation, restitution, and court fees and a 3-year suspension of his hunting license (but it may be reviewed after one year).  Brian and Bobby George also received similar sentences for their guilty pleas.  

Poaching Ring – Career Criminals

The defendant, described as the ringleader, was Robert Zeko (Born in 1975).  Robert Zeko pleaded guilty to four felony charges in exchange for 22 more felonies and 8 misdemeanors to be dropped.  Robert was sentenced to 3 years determinate and 2 years indeterminate in Idaho State Prison, thousands of dollars in restitution and a lifetime suspension of his hunting license.  

Nicholas Zeko (Born in 1992) pleaded guilty to 4 felonies and had 6 more felonies and 2 misdemeanors dropped.  Nicholas received a 3-year determinate and 2-year indeterminate prison sentence suspended but will serve 90 days in jail as a term of his probation.  Nicholas will also have a 3-year felony probation term once released.  Nicholas will pay restitution and have a lifetime hunting license suspension.  A unique thing about Nicholas is he is no stranger to breaking the law.  In September 2023, Nicholas was arrested and charged in Ada County with two felony counts of Burglary and one felony count of Grand Theft.  In December 2024, Nicholas pleaded guilty to one count of Burglary and was sentenced to 2 years in State Prison (Determinate) but that prison sentence was also suspended.  Nicholas was put on another felony probation and was “required to enroll and complete a course of impulsive behavior therapy.”  

This is the type of easy on crime stuff that I am used to seeing in Law Enforcement unfortunately.  Another defendant, Bobby “Chuck” Ephrem (Born in 1977 of Oregon) is another guy who is familiar with the criminal justice system.  In this case, Bobby was charged with 7 felonies and 3 misdemeanors.  Bobby pleaded guilty to 2 of those felonies and had the other charges dropped.  Bobby was sentenced to 3 years determinate in state prison with 2 years indeterminate.  Bobby has thousands of dollars in fines and a lifetime Hunting License suspension.  

While out of jail awaiting trial for this case, Bobby was arrested at least twice in Oregon.  In May 2025, Bobby was booked in the Clackamas County Jail on charges of Felony Theft 1st Degree, Felon in Possession of a Weapon, a Wildlife Offense, and Aid in Game/Fish Violation.  In August 2025 Bobby was arrested for his Idaho Fugitive Warrant for this case.  

Sentencing Too Soft

Some of the defendants in this case should not have had plea deals in my opinion.  The soft on crime approach is breeding more of this type of behavior because the risk does not outweigh the reward.  These aren’t guys that are forgetting to tag their animal immediately or forget their license in the truck.  These are heinous types of crimes that need to be treated as such.  The other hunters who wait patiently for an opportunity that these men stole from are the victims here.  Hunters need to start voicing their opinions about these light sentences or it will just continue.  

These men took numerous trophy mule deer off the landscape in Unit 54 in Idaho.  A unit that is very hard to draw.  A unit that has very high trophy potential.  A unit that was hit hard by the winters over the past several years.  

I’ve spoken my piece but do you think the punishment fits the crime in this case?  

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