Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that an Arizona man was sentenced in federal court in Juneau to pay a fine of $1,685 for his conviction on one count of destruction of natural resources on National Park Service land.

On September 15, 2011, Andrew R. Varni, 52, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge Leslie C. Longenbaugh.

According to information presented to the court by Assistant United States Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, Varni is permitted by the National Park Service to operate a seasonal fish camp in Dry Bay, Alaska within the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. On August 24, 2010, a National Park Service Ranger observed that Varni had cut down 21 large trees and an additional 100 smaller trees on Park land near his fish camp. Varni did not have a permit and was not authorized to cut these trees on Park lands.

Ms. Loeffler commended the National Park Service for its investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Varni.

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