Three Sentenced For Illegal Big Game Hunts In Wrangell-St. Elias National Park And Preserve

Three men were recently sentenced for hunting-related violations involving Dall sheep and brown bears in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve / NPS

A multi-year interagency investigation has resulted in the conviction and sentencing of three men who violated the Lacey Act and other federal laws by hunting in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska.

During a recent court hearing, Casey Richardson, Jeffrey Harris, and Dale Lackner were each sentenced to serve five years of probation, ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution, and ordered to perform community service for hunting-related violations involving Dall sheep and brown bears in the park.

According to court documents, a federal investigation was launched in December 2015 after an anonymous letter was received by the State of Alaska Wildlife Investigations Unit. The letter claimed illegal hunting activities were occurring at Ptarmigan Lake Lodge in the park.

The lodge is owned and operated by Urban Rahoi and is permitted as a concessionaire to provide sport hunting guide services, according to the National Park Service's Investigative Services Branch. The hunt area within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is within the boundaries of Alaska Game Management Unit 12. Records revealed that PLL had charged four of its clients a total of approximately $58,000 associated with four illegally harvested Dall sheep and other wildlife.  

Richardson, 48, and Harris, 45, are not Alaska residents nor registered guides. The 74-year-old Lackner is an Alaska resident and was a registered guide beginning in 2015. During the 2014 and 2015 hunting seasons, out-of-state hunters illegally hunted and killed Dall sheep at PLL without being accompanied by a registered guide, the ISB said.

In 2014, the investigation determined, Harris guided an out-of-state hunter at PLL, with the hunter harvesting a Dall sheep. Harris falsified the hunt record to indicate the hunt was conducted by a registered guide, the ISB said. Additionally, it added that in 2014, at PLL, Harris harvested two brown bears without a guide present and without possessing a harvest ticket or locking tag for either bear. One of the brown bears was harvested out of season and the hunt record was falsified, the investigation concluded.

Also in 2014, Richardson conspired with Lackner to harvest a Dall sheep at PLL, the ISB said, explaining that Lackner falsified the State of Alaska Sheep Harvest Report to indicate he harvested the sheep and later transported the sheep to Montana, to Richardson.

In 2015, Richardson guided three out-of-state hunters on three separate hunts at PLL, the investigation found. All three hunters harvested Dall sheep. Harris falsified two of the hunt records to indicate the hunts were conducted by registered guides, according to ISB investigators. Lackner falsified the third hunt record to indicate that hunt was conducted by a registered guide, they added.

A Dall Sheep / Pixabay.

In 2014 and 2015, multiple illegal bait site locations were determined to be maintained by PLL and not registered with the State of Alaska. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is toxic to canines and birds, was used at the unlawful bait sites to poison wolves and bears, the investigation found.

On July 5, 2016, the National Park Service suspended Rahoi's concession contract pending the outcome of the criminal investigation, and directed Rahoi to refund all hunt clients that may have been booked for 2016 and 2017 hunt seasons. Rahoi was issued a Federal Violation Notice for an unregistered bait site, forced to surrender his State of Alaska guide/outfitter license, and made a donation to the National Park Foundation, according to the investigation. Justin Field, of Team Fate Outdoors, was cited for unlawful commercial filming of a 2015 Dall sheep hunt, the ISB said.

Prior to their recent sentencing, Richardson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and two felony counts of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, the ISB said. Harris pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, one felony count of submitting a Lacey Act False Record, one count of making false statements, and one count of conspiracy to use an illegal substance to incapacitate game, the agency said.

Lackner pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and one felony count of making a Lacey Act False Record, according to ISB.

As part of their sentence, Richardson was ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution, Harris was ordered to pay $26,000 in restitution, and Lackner was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution. Restitution was to be made to the Department of Interior Restoration Fund on behalf of the National Park Service, and to the State of Alaska.

The defendants also were prohibited from any hunting or to assist in any hunting for the five years of probation. They were each ordered to perform mroe than 100 hours of community service, and assist in providing and paying for public service announcements that would include a statement about the importance of understanding and following hunting laws and regulations.

Additionally, Richardson and Harris were each sentenced to serve three months in a halfway house followed by three months of home confinement, and Lackner was sentenced to six months of home confinement. During the periods of home confinement, the defendants were to be on electronic monitoring.

The investigation was conducted by Special Agents of the National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, with assistance from U.S. Park Rangers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska, prosecuted the case.