Five Southeast Alaska commercial fishermen, including one from Cordova, have been indicted by a federal grand jury with conspiring to illegally harvest halibut, in violation of the Lacey Act.
Michael Babic, 42, of Cordova, was one of the five the U.S. Attorney’s office claims conspired to illegally harvest halibut near Yakutat on multiple occasions between 2019 and 2023. The others were: Jonathan Pavik, 42, Yakutat, Vincent Jackson 52, of Yakutat, Kyle Dierick, 36, of Yakutat, and Timothy Ross, 58, of Washington. All five are experienced commercial fishermen.
Court documents allege that Pavlik separately conspired with Jacobson, Dierick, Babic and Ross to illegally harvest and land halibut through various means – including each defendant landing halibut without having been aboard the fishing vessel at all times during the fishing trips, which is a violation of federal law and regulations. The indictment alleges that all five men intentionally falsely reported that the halibut caught was creditable to their respective individual fishing quota (IFQ) permit balances. Pavlik and the four co-conspirators are responsible for the more than 10,700 pounds of illegally harvested halibut.
The indictment further alleges that Pavlik, between Aug. 31, 2023, and Oct. 11, 2023, sold and intentionally made false statements regarding more than 9,600 pounds of halibut caught on the F/V Bad Intentions, but illegally transferred to the F/V New Era before landing for sale.
Pavlik is charged with four counts of conspiracy, five counts of unlawful sale, and five counts of false labeling under the Lacey Act. Jacobson, Dierick, Babic and Ross are each charged with one count of Lacey Act conspiracy.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska said Monday the indictments were handed down on July 17 in Juneau, with all five summonses executed at the end of July. The five men are due in U.S. District Court in Juneau within the next two weeks for their initial arraignments, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble.
If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison for each count and up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
