Anchorage, Alaska – Two men from Yakutat were indicted by a federal grand jury in Anchorage in a six-count indictment on charges of conspiracy, violations of the Lacey Act and witness tampering.

Acting United States Attorney Kevin Feldis announced that Reginald D. Krkovich, 67, and David

M. Demers, 56, residents of Yakutat, Alaska, were charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, three violations of the Lacey Act and one count of witness tampering in connection with the illegal guiding of non-resident hunters and the taking of a brown bear in and around Yakutat, Alaska and at Esker Stream in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve. Reginald Krkovich was also charged with one count of false labeling under the Lacey Act for filing a false sealing certificate with the state of Alaska concerning the illegally taken brown bear.

The indictment alleges that Krkovich and Demers, neither of whom was a registered guide, transporter or outfitter, actively guided and transported two out of state residents for brown bear and moose in and around Yakutat in 2007. The conspiracy charge alleges that in September, 2007, two nonresident hunters cancelled a contracted hunt after receiving negative reports of the contracted guide’s services. The indictment alleges that Krkovich and Demers took the non-resident hunters to Humpy Cove and Knight Island twice over a two-day period and while there hunted for moose and brown bear without success.

The indictment also alleges that the unsuccessful trip north of Yakutat, Krkovich flew with the hunters to the Esker Stream area of Wrangell St. Elias Preserve to continue hunting moose and brown bear, and that over the next several days Krkovich and Demers guided the two non-resident hunters with one of the hunters ultimately killing a brown bear. The indictment alleges that after the brown bear was killed by the non-resident hunter, who was in the accompany of Demers, Krkovich later arrived and used his bear tag to tag the brown bear. In connection with falsely tagging the bear with his tag, the indictment charges Krkovich with providing false information to the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game for falsely stating on a brown bear sealing certificate that he shot the brown bear while intending to ship the brown bear hide and skull out of state.

The final count of the indictment charges Krkovich and Demers with Witness Tampering for actions taken after the brown bear hide was transported out of Alaska. The indictment charges Krkovich and Demers with contacting one of the non-resident hunters with the intention to corruptly persuade him not to cooperate with federal agents investigating the case.

The maximum penalties for conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, violations of the Lacey Act, false labeling of wildlife and witness tampering is a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of $250,000 and three years probation. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service led the investigation of this case with significant the support of Alaska Wildlife Troopers.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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