Geoduck, sea cucumber cases result in fines

From the Alaska State Troopers:

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Conviction
On 5/8/12 Le Jiayong, 57, of Ketchikan, was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Ketchikan Post, on 19 counts of falsifying commercial fish tickets and unlawful possession of commercially taken geoduck clams. Le was cited after investigation revealed he had purchased commercially taken geoducks from four fishermen and provided false weights on Alaska Department of Fish and Game fish tickets. Investigation by Ketchikan and Klawock Wildlife Troopers found that Le misreported the actual weights of clams and failed to report clams that had been harvested in excess of trip limits. On 10/25/12, through a plea agreement made with the Ketchikan District Attorney's Office, Le had 18 charges dismissed and pled guilty to one count of falsifying fish tickets. Le was fined $250 and placed on a year's probation.

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Conviction
On 4/10/12 Le Jiayong, 57, of Ketchikan, was cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Ketchikan Post, for returning 22 commercial fish tickets later than the seven-day requirement. On 10/25/12, through a plea agreement made with the Ketchikan District Attorney's Office, Le had 21 charges dismissed and pled guilty to one count of failing to return fish tickets in the time required. Le was fined $2,500 and placed on a year's probation.

Location: Ketchikan
Type: Convictions
On 10/1/12 Matthew R. Pressly, 48, of Ketchikan, and Gregory S. Shaw, 34, and Samantha M. Pressly, 24, both of California, were cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Ketchikan Post, for commercial fishing for sea cucumbers in closed waters. They were cited after troopers observed the F/V Lorelei commercial diving for sea cucumbers in closed waters of Trollers Cove on the east side of Prince of Wales Island. Investigation revealed the vessel had harvested 1,395 pounds of sea cucumbers from closed waters. The state seized the load of sea cucumbers valued at $5,580. On 10/19/12, through a plea agreement made with the Ketchikan District Attorney's Office, the three pled guilty to one count of commercial fishing in closed waters. Each defendant was fined $1,000 with a $500 suspended, and placed on a year's probation. Also, the proceeds of the seized sea cucumbers were forfeited.