When it comes to commercial fishing in Alaska, the vessel name Bad Intentions turned out to be more than a catchy moniker — it was allegedly a mission statement.
A federal grand jury has indicted five experienced Southeast Alaska fishermen in a sweeping conspiracy to illegally harvest thousands of pounds of halibut, in violation of the Lacey Act. One of the boats at the center of the scheme? The F/V Bad Intentions.
Jonathan Pavlik, 43, of Yakutat, is accused of masterminding the operation, allegedly conspiring with Vincent Jacobson, 51, and Kyle Dierick, 36, both of Yakutat; Michael Babic, 42, of Cordova; and Timothy Ross, 58, of Washington. The indictment alleges the fishermen coordinated illegal halibut harvests near Yakutat from 2019 through 2023.
According to court documents, Pavlik and the others routinely broke federal law by reporting that halibut had been legally caught under their Individual Fishing Quota permits, even when some of them weren’t even aboard the fishing vessel during harvests, a requirement under federal regulations. In total, over 10,700 pounds of halibut were allegedly harvested and falsely reported.
The indictment goes on to detail a particularly brazen episode between August and October 2023, when more than 9,600 pounds of halibut harvested aboard the Bad Intentions were allegedly offloaded onto another vessel, the F/V New Era, and then falsely reported and sold.
Pavlik faces four counts of conspiracy, five counts of unlawful sale, and five counts of false labeling under the Lacey Act. His alleged co-conspirators — Jacobson, Dierick, Babic, and Ross — are each charged with one count of conspiracy.
If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in federal prison for each count and fines up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by NOAA’s Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Division, with assistance from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers. It is being prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.
Initial court appearances are scheduled over the next two weeks before US Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble in Anchorage.
In Alaska’s high-stakes fisheries, the rules are strict and the penalties are steep. If prosecutors win their case, the road to jail may be paved with Bad Intentions.
Throw the book at them!
Maybe we ought to follow due process and prove they committed crimes first; don’t ya think?
There are so many illegal fishing operations in Southeast Alaska. There are probably 3 or 4 illegal guiding operations right in the community where I live. One actually posted three videos on Facebook documenting illegal guiding…a couple renting lodging from a summer only fake resident were taken out halibut and salmon fishing on the lodge owner’s boat, by the lodge owner who is not a registered guide. They also dropped crab pots. Videoed all of it and NOAA was uninterested. Alaska State Troopers were uninterested. Other guests posted pictures and narrative on the lodge’s Facebook page detailing their guided trips with this same lodge owner. Indisputable proof and nothing was done. Slam dunk case. Our state and federal authorities like big splashy busts like the one detailed in this article but the combined resources lost to these smaller operations likely exceeds what the commercial guys are doing. When AST does bring the rare case our local judges usually let the perpetrator off. Justice isn’t blind around here, apathetic would be closer to the truth.
PJ.. Name that lodge…
Oh my! The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Back in 1977 I worked with as an Alaskan Fish and Wildlife Aide in Yakutat. We worked a case against the Pavlik’s back then…
I would hate to be judged by my parents actions or inactions. This is still America.
Trawlers waste that in a week and it’s legal……………..
This case is probably just scratching the surface. We don’t have enough enforcement officials to control the fishing done on the commercial halibut fishery.
If only the feds cared as much about Flo Okpealuk and other missing women as they do about prosecuting wildlife crimes…
Seems like the punishments don’t fit the crime: possible five years in prison and $250,000 fine? For illegal FISH harvesting? Be real- these are fish- who was harmed?
Agreed. It doesn’t seem as if any fish or people were harmed, I do not see over-harvesting, I do not see damage to the environment / protected species. It all seems quite administrative? 5 years per count? Life in prison for one of them? Really?