1/10/2020

A famous local hunting personality whose television shows appeared in many North Country homes was arraigned Jan. 8 on accusations he led paying hunters on illegal waterfowl hunts over baited ponds in October and November 2018 in Jefferson County.

William “Bill” Saiff III, 56, Henderson, was arraigned in federal court in Syracuse after being charged by indictment with three felony counts, according to the Department of Justice.

The charges were announced by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Ryan Noel, Regional Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement; and Bernard Rivers, Director of Law Enforcement, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

If convicted, Saiff faces up to five years in prison on each count, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the…