U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown signed off Tuesday on a restitution plan for defendants found guilty of occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Thirteen defendants guilty of conspiracy have agreed to pay $78,000 in restitution. The money will go to the Friends of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, a nonprofit that supports the mission of the refuge.
All of the defendants played some role in the 2016 occupation, led by brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy. Both of the Bundys and five other occupation leaders were acquitted of all charges in the case.
The purpose of restitution is to compensate victims for their loss. It typically covers physical and property damages, but generally doesn’t cover law enforcement costs.
Under the proposal, higher profile members of the 41-day long occupation in eastern Oregon are ordered to pay as much as $10,000, the motion states. While less culpable members could be required to pay $3,000.
The federal government initially asked for more than $900,000 in restitution.
"We are happy to close this chapter and focus on ensuring all Americans can continue to enjoy our nation's wildlife and wild places," said Jason Holm, a spokesperson for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the refuge.
Here’s a list of the 13 defendants who are ordered to pay restitution under the agreement:
Jon Ritzheimer — $10,000
Jason Patrick — $10,000
Ryan Payne — $10,000
Blaine Cooper — $7,000
Joseph O’Shaughnessy — $7,000
Corey Lequieu — $7,000
Brian Cavalier — $7,000
Darryl Thorn — $5,000
Jason Blomgren — $3,000
Travis Cox — $3,000
Eric Flores — $3,000
Wesley Kjar — $3,000
Geoffrey Stanek — $3,000
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