An Idaho man, Kevin Wardell, is accused of selling counterfeit spotted lanternfly permits to Pennsylvania businesses through his company, Diverse Solutions, LLC. He allegedly impersonated the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and threatened businesses with civil and criminal penalties if they didn’t purchase these fake permits and training.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General, Dave Sunday, stated that legitimate permits are free and can only be obtained after completing official training provided by the Department of Agriculture. This training is essential for businesses handling specific materials like wood and construction supplies to help control the spread of the invasive spotted lanternflies.
The lawsuit aims to prevent Wardell and his business from operating in Pennsylvania and seeks restitution for businesses that fell victim to this scam. Sunday emphasized that while Pennsylvania is focused on managing invasive species, scams like these hinder efforts to protect crops.
