Travis Larson, Illegal Wildlife Transportation, Alaska 2023

In a shocking case of wildlife trafficking, Travis Larson, 47, of Homer, and his company Alaska Premier Sportfishing, LLC, have been charged with unlawful transportation of four black bears and making false records in violation of the Lacey Act.

According to court documents, Larson and his company allegedly transported the four black bears in May 2018, knowing they had been unlawfully harvested by Norwegian hunters. The defendants used a 65-foot vessel, the Venturess, and a 16-foot motorboat to commit these offenses.

The indictment further charges that Larson and Alaska Premier Sportfishing made and submitted false records, stating the four bears had been transported from Nuka Island, when in truth they had been transported from Beauty Bay and Surprise Bay on the Kenai Peninsula.

Larson is charged with four counts of Unlawful Transportation of Wildlife, in violation of 16 U.S.C. § 3372(a)(2)(A); and two counts of Making False Record, in violation of 16 U.S.C. § 3372(d). If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $20,000 fine on each count.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The defendants are scheduled for their initial court appearance on May 11, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement, which was met with outrage from wildlife conservation groups.

The United States Fish Wildlife Service, National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Alaska State Troopers are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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