Wrangell Father And Son Sentenced For Charges Relating To Violations Of The Lacey Act

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a father and son from Wrangell, Alaska, were sentenced yesterday in Juneau federal court on charges related to violations of the Lacey Act while fishing for halibut in the Gulf of Alaska.

Charles “Chuck” J. Petticrew Sr., 70, and Charles “Jeff” J. Petticrew Jr., 42, residents of Wrangell, Alaska, were previously charged with violating the federal Lacey Act.  Both defendants admitted their crimes and pled guilty in October before Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess.

According to Assistant U. S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, Between June 28, 2010, and continuing until May 20, 2013, Petticrew Sr. and Petticrew Jr. conspired to falsify fishing locations on Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) Longline Fishery Logbook entries, IFQ landing permits, and ADF&G Halibut Tickets indicating that they fished in Management Area 3A, when in fact, they had only fished Management Area 2C.  The defendants had illegally caught halibut in Management Area 2C valued over $23,000 and falsified Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) records.  Petticrew Sr. pled guilty to a single felony count of conspiracy to falsify (IFQ) records and was sentenced to pay a $90,000 fine and placed on probation for five years.  Petticrew Jr. pled guilty to a single misdemeanor count for violating the Lacey Act by falsifying IFQ records and was sentenced to pay a $10,000 fine and placed on probation for five years.  Both defendants agreed to install and pay for a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for the vessel used by the defendants or any other vessel who is fishing on behalf of the family corporation.  

Prior to imposing the sentences, Judge Burgess stated the seriousness of the crime, deterrence of the defendant and others, as well as the need to protect Alaska fishery resources.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Enforcement Division conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.