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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A former Yellowknife businessman who left the city in 2005 is in hot water with U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials over a polar bear rug he acquired in the North and sold south of the border.

Dwight Hickey, now living in Fredericton, is the subject of an extradition application filed earlier this month in Court of Queen's Bench in Fredericton..

Dwight Hickey, seen here in the bakery when he owned Grandma Lee's in Centre Square Mall in 2003, faces extradition to the U.S. over a polar bear rug he sold in 2005. - NNSL file photo

U.S. officials allege that Hickey illegally imported and sold the rug in Sandersville, Georgia where he re-located after leaving Yellowknife in 2005 to raise money for his business, a personal care home for mentally-challenged adults.

It's all a mistake, according to Hickey, 55.

What happened, Hickey told reporters in Fredericton, is a friend packed some clothes for him and tossed in the bear rug, which had been acquired from a Yellowknife taxidermist who found the animal dead.

The rug was lying around the personal-care home, Hickey said, when a man saw it and offered to buy it. Fish and Wildlife got involved when he called them for advice on the legality of possessing the rug in the United States.

According to court records, Cindy Murray, Hickey's former partner in the U.S., contends that Hickey specifically arranged for the rug to be sent and that the buyer inquired with federal officials about necessary permits to own the pelt.

Hickey left Georgia later in 2005 after the business got into trouble. He told reporters he first learned about the case and extradition request when a Fredericton police officer with an arrest warrant knocked on his door earlier this month.

James Martin, a federal Justice department lawyer on the case, said a comparable offence in Canada is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $25,000.

In Yellowknife, Hickey owned Growers Direct, Grandma Lee's and Juice It Up, all in the Centre Square Mall, and the Airport Gift Shop. He also managed L'Atitudes Restaurant and the Mackenzie Lounge, also in the mall.

When Hickey left the NWT capital without notice to employees, his lawyer, Garth Wallbridge, said he had made an appointment for Hickey to see a bankruptcy trustee in Edmonton.

Hickey's extradition hearing is set for April 3. He could be not be reached by Yellowknifer subsequent comment.