Alaska News

Fisherman ordered to forfeit $117,000 for illegal catches

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS -- A fisherman has been sentenced to four years' probation after pleading guilty to Lacey Act violations.

The U.S. attorney's office said 73-year-old Thomas Millman, of Minnesota, admitted to illegally catching more than 250,000 pounds of Pacific cod, worth more than $73,000, in 2005. The office says Millman caught the fish in a region along the Aleutian Islands closed by the state to protect the Steller sea lion. It cites court documents that allege Millman violated the Lacey Act by commercially selling the ill-gained fish.

U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler said Millman pleaded guilty and was sentenced Friday. He also was ordered to forfeit more than $117,000 in proceeds of his fishing activities.

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