The former owner of a Ketchikan restaurant pleaded guilty in a Juneau federal court Monday to illegally purchasing 997 pounds of subsistence and sport-caught halibut that he sold to customers, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Donald Ray Thornlow bought the halibut from three fishermen between January 2012 and December 2013. He paid "significantly less than he would have paid for legally harvested halibut," said a statement Wednesday from U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler.
Thornlow resold the halibut at the Narrows Inn and Restaurant, which he owned and operated, the statement said.
According to a sentencing memorandum filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt, Thornlow had previously bought halibut from a local processor. However, he began facing financial difficulties in January 2012 and started buying the fish at below-market rates. Law enforcement first received complaints of the illegal purchases from several of Thornlow's employees, the memorandum said.
The 66-year-old pleaded guilty to a violation of the Lacey Act, which bans the trade of illegally sourced wildlife. Under the plea agreement, he must pay a $5,000 fine and will be placed on probation for one year.
Thornlow currently lives in Mount Vernon, Washington, Schmidt said. The three fishermen face charges for their involvement in the halibut sale, he said.
Thornlow's attorney did not immediately respond to request for comment.