Two Tucson men have been sentenced by a federal judge  for taking cacti from Saguaro National Monument on Jan. 12, 2007.

Joseph Tillman, 50, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Gregory James McKee, 42, was sentenced to six months of home confinement and 100 hours of community service.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the men dug up the cacti from the monument and intended to sell it.

Both men pleaded guilty to violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in plants or animals which are protected by law, treaty, U.S. regulation or Indian tribal law.

The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney . The park's chief ranger, Robert Love, said after the sentencings that saguaro cacti have become a valuable commodity and "are increasingly targeted by thieves and poachers."

Sandy Raynor, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said the men were sentenced late last month.