So what is the full story . Can someone point me in the right direction?

Ben Milkingem may have fished from Sept to late Feb without a fishing license in Tx. It was found out in, I think he said, Oct by a warden who was auditing share lunker entries.
There may have been other tournaments he was involved in, but no charges at this point
Tbend was late Feb, I would think he had to have his license for that

Sharelunker entries are drawn for two $5000 prize packs, since the total comes to $10,000 they charged him with felony tournament fraud. Kind of a stretch to call sharelunker banquet a bass tournament but they have designated it one in this case.

I think I agree, but more facts are coming out.

There is no ay you can call turning in a Sharelunker fishing in a tournament. The State of Texas asked people to turn in their fish so they can improve the bass genetics in the State. If you are out just dicking around pleasure fishing and catch a a bass over 13 pounds were you tournament fishing? Not in my opinion

Class A misdemeanor

I believe Milkman knows exactly what he is doing and milking it for clicks. I mean, that is what he does for a living.

forgetting to renew your license ranks right up there with failure to zip your life jacket all the way up....here's a guy who bought 5-7 expensive out of state licences to fish the elite series last year....we and the game/fish wardens need to cut him some slack....

What would happen to Joe Smo if he did the same thing ? That is exactly what should happen to Millikin , whatever that is, imo.

Nothing would have happend. At the most, they would have slapped that person with a $130 or whatever it is, no fishing license fine, and disqualified that person from whatever prize pack drawing that they've somehow managed to morph into som sort of tournament fraud, which is a serious stretch.

I really can't believe the DA or whoever decided this was the best use of time. What a waste all the way around. Milliken is in trouble for doing the TPWD a supposed favor by giving them a Sherry to spawn!!!! Give the guy a ticket, take his name out of the hat for the raffle for the stuff he probably doesn't want or need, and move on. Done.

There are much bigger fish to fry penally, focus on that, please.

Not even the same!

Beartrap! You're right, we'll said.

Good grief. All this over an expired fishing license? We had a club tournament s few years ago and when the game warden checked us when we came in two guys had expired licenses. One had an expired boat registration. Did we decide they were cheaters and kick them out of the club? No, we just laughed at them. We thought it was hilarious. It's a standing joke to this day...our outlaw buddies.

Milliken had some limited time offer "Free Milliken" Merch up for sale, but I can't seem to find the link to purchase, anyone know how I can get ahold of some "Free Milliken" merch, he's saying a good attorney isn't cheap. haha.