[Cross-posted to talk.politics.drugs and alt.drugs because of references
in the press release to the sale of illegal drugs.]
Here is a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Five Defendants Sentenced in Alaska Ivory Poaching Case
To: National Desk, Environment Writer
Contact: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs,
202-514-2007
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Department of Justice, in
conjunction with the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the
U.S. Attorney's office in Anchorage, Alaska, said today that five
defendants have been sentenced, four of them to terms of imprisonment
ranging from two to 10 months, for "headhunting," which is the
illegal hunting and killing of Pacific walrus for their ivory.
The defendants were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation
called "Operation Whiteout," an undercover operation that exposed
the widespread poaching of walrus ivory which was then often traded
for illegal drugs.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy and illegally killing
walrus during a hunting trip filmed by an undercover agent. The
videotape showed the defendants shooting into several herds of
walrus, killing 10 animals and taking only the head and oosik (the
walrus penis bone) of each animal. The defendants were charged
with 24 others in January 1992.
The Pacific walrus has been protected by the provisions of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) since the act's inception in
1972. The MMPA allows Alaskan Natives, like the five defendants, to
hunt the animals for subsistence or handicraft purposes if the
hunters take all the usable parts of each walrus they kill -- not
just the commercially saleable ivory tusks. Alaskan Natives have
hunted the walrus for many years and currently take about 10,000
animals each year.
Acting Assistant Attorney General for the department's
Environment and Natural Resources Division Vicki A. O'Meara said,
"Operation Whiteout is a double-barrelled success. We've convicted
ivory dealers and drug dealers at the same time."
According to U.S. Attorney Wevley William Shea, "The United States
recognizes that most Native Alaskan hunters take walrus legally.
However, we will aggressively investigate and prosecute any hunters
engaged in illegal hunting, or in trading ivory for drugs." Shea
also commended the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for their
outstanding work on a lengthy and often dangerous investigation.
Operation Whiteout, initiated in April 1990 by undercover agents
of the FWS, established a wholesale marine mammal product business to
uncover the network of Alaskan natives who engaged in "headhunting"
for walrus ivory. Over a 20-month period, the agents engaged in
hundreds of wildlife transactions with natives and non-natives across
western Alaska. Drugs, especially marijuana, were sought by hunters
in exchange for the ivory tusks and carvings they wished to sell.
By late 1991, the agents had identified over 70 natives and
non-natives who were potential subjects for prosecution on both drug
and wildlife charges. Of the "first wave" of 29 indictments, 25 have
now been convicted or have pleaded guilty, typically to multiple
felony charges. Sentences have been stiff by environmental standards
with some defendants receiving up to two years in prison and
substantial fines. Two trials resulted in convictions. Although two
defendants remain to be sentenced, the results of Operation Whiteout
prosecutions to date are listed on the attached table.
"During the Operation Whiteout investigations, members of
Alaska's Native community provided support and assistance that was
immensely important in the effort to halt illegal activities," said
Walter O. Stieglitz, regional director for the FWS in Alaska. "That
partnership has been and continues to be a major pillar in our walrus
management program. Americans treasure their wildlife and we must
all continue to work to preserve it for future generations."
Sentenced in U.S. District Court in Anchorage were Patrick
Soolook, to two months imprisonment; Dennis Soolook, to six months
imprisonment; Edgar Iyapana, to one year probation on the condition
that two months be spent in a halfway house; Patrick Omiak, to six
months imprisonment; and Glen Iyahook, to ten months imprisonment.
Prosecution of these cases was coordinated between the
Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division and the
U.S. Attorney's office in Anchorage. Though the undercover portion
of Operation Whiteout has been terminated, the investigation is
ongoing.
------
Operation Whiteout Interim Prosecution Report
*(As of 10/30/92)
Filings:
Indictments 13
Complaints 2
Total 15
By Convictions/Pleas to Counts Charged:
Convictions/Pleas to felony counts 35
Convictions/Pleas to misd. counts 32
Total 67
By Count:
Total counts charged 80
Convictions/pleas 39
Acquittals 1
Dismissals 26
By Type of Offense:
Lacey Act felony convictions/pleas 20
Lacey Act misd. convictions/pleas 6
Drug felony convictions/pleas 13
Drug misdemeanor convictions/pleas 1
MMPA misdemeanor convictions/pleas 20
Conspiracy convictions/pleas 7
By Defendant:
Total defendants charged 29
Convictions/Pleas 25
Acquittals 0
Dismissals upon motion of gov't 4
Dismissals upon motion of defense 0
Other 0
Conviction Rate:
Of defendants initially charged 86 %
Of defendants prosecuted after
charging 100 %
Prosecution Outcomes:
Financial
Fines $20,520
Restitution $34,279
Court Costs 0
Special Assessments $2,400
Total $55,679
Prison
Years 9
Months 2
Days 4
Supervised Release
Years 32
Months 0
Days 0
Probation
Years 18
Months 6
Days 0
* Two defendants remain to be sentenced.
-30-
--
The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
internet: bbs.oit.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80