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Pennsylvania Sues Idaho Man over Sales of Fake Spotted Lanternfly ‘Permits’

The lawsuit seeks to ban Kevin Wardell and his company from doing business in Pennsylvania and to repay buyers of the fake permits.

  • On Tuesday, Pennsylvania Attorney General Sunday filed a lawsuit against Kevin Wardell of Idaho and Diverse Solutions, LLC, accusing them of deceiving Pennsylvanians into purchasing fraudulent spotted lanternfly permits.
  • Certain Pennsylvania businesses must obtain permits from the Pennsylvania Department under a state quarantine order; legitimate training is available for free through the Pennsylvania Department and Penn State Extension.
  • Wardell allegedly used deceptive logos and terminology, including the name Spotted Lanternfly Commission, to trick residents into believing letters were official correspondence from the Pennsylvania Department.
  • Numerous individuals and businesses purchased the fraudulent permits and training, believing the correspondence originated from the Pennsylvania Department; at least 80 residents received the deceptive letters.
  • Filed in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, the lawsuit seeks to prohibit Wardell and Diverse Solutions from conducting business in The Commonwealth and demands restitution for all consumers who purchased the fraudulent permits.
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An Idaho man is being paid by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office for allegedly scamming businesses into buying fake permits and training courses for the eradication of the invasive spotted latenfly. Prosecutors allege Kevin Wardell sent out fraudulent letters presented as wars from the Department of Agriculture.

·Philadelphia, United States
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WHP broke the news on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
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