https://www.thedailybeast.com/...-bear-hunting-scheme


Link to photos and articles.

https://www.documentcloud.org/...250-liang-and-phelan


Link to criminal complaint.

Who would want to do that? When I came back from bear hunting I threw a lot of clothes out and showered like 4 times

So the taxpayers paid the $60,000.00 for the hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Alaskan Sourdough:
So the taxpayers paid the $60,000.00 for the hunt.

I’m sure that a lot of that was recovered, but I do have to admit that the $1,400 tip did have me scratching my head.

quote:

Originally posted by chuck375:
Who would want to do that? When I came back from bear hunting I threw a lot of clothes out and showered like 4 times

Probably because the gals are more cuddly than the bears!

Maybe just to keep up their cover story

https://www.justice.gov/usao-a...aud-money-laundering


Fairbanks Men Indicted on Federal Charges for Wildlife Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Money Laundering

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment on July 20 charging two Fairbanks men with eight federal charges linked to an illegal big-game guide-outfitter operation.

According to court documents, Jun “Harry” Liang, 59, and Brian Phelan, 51, of Fairbanks, conspired to provide guide-outfitter services for caribou and brown bear hunts in Fairbanks, while neither were licensed by the state of Alaska to do so. Liang collected around $11,000 in 2021 and $60,000 in 2022 for guided hunts.

Liang is charged with eight counts: one count Lacey Act conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371; two counts wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343; one count Lacey Act false labelling in violation of 18 U.S.C. §3372(d)(2); two counts illegal alien in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(5)(A); and two counts money laundering, one in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1957(a) and another in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(a)(1)(A)(i). Phelan is charged with one count Lacey Act conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371 and one count Lacey Act false labelling in violation of 18 U.S.C. §3372(d)(2).

Liang was arrested and made his initial court appearance on July 14 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. Phelan is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in August. If convicted, Liang faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, and Phelan faces a maximum of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the assistance of the Alaska State Troopers, Wildlife Investigations Unit, is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Skrocki and Carly Vosacek are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

Contact
Reagan Zimmerman

Public Affairs Officer

Reagan.Zimmerman@usdoj.gov

Updated July 25, 2023

Looks like a business model for Nevada- if only they had the bears.

quote:

Originally posted by crane:
Looks like a business model for Nevada- if only they had the bears.

Oh, they've got plenty of bears in Nevada if you go to the right clubs

quote:

Originally posted by justanotherhunter:

quote:

Originally posted by crane:
Looks like a business model for Nevada- if only they had the bears.

Oh, they've got plenty of bears in Nevada if you go to the right clubs

I suspect cougars wouldn't be hard to find.

Grizz

Have you seen the prostitutes in Fairbanks?
I'll take the bear.

quote:

Originally posted by Gil Fisher:
Have you seen the prostitutes in Fairbanks?
I'll take the bear.

Street prostitutes' from all over normally are ugly disease ridden drug users.

It is not like the movies.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

Originally posted by Gil Fisher:
Have you seen the prostitutes in Fairbanks?
I'll take the bear.

Street prostitutes' from all over normally are ugly disease ridden drug users.

It is not like the movies.

Actually the women whose services were offered were NOT “prostitutes”, they were “substitutes”. They only worked weekends.

I don't even want the end of my 10' pole dirty.
No thanks, I'll pass on that "special" hunt.

Zeke

10 FEET?
Methinks you are bragging.

quote:

Originally posted by Bud Meadows:
Actually the women whose services were offered were NOT “prostitutes”, they were “substitutes”. They only worked weekends.

Hot for Teacher?

Can we start a new thread? Moose and prostitutes?

quote:

Can we start a new thread? Moose and prostitutes?

Start any thread you would like two

I LIKE PROSTITUTES better than Bears or Moose!

Hip

quote:

Originally posted by Gil Fisher:
Have you seen the prostitutes in Fairbanks?
I'll take the bear.

Probably hard to tell apart.

Grizz

quote:

Originally posted by Hipshoot:
I LIKE PROSTITUTES better than Bears or Moose!

Hip

They are definitely easier to fit in the freezer

quote:

Originally posted by justanotherhunter:

quote:

Originally posted by Hipshoot:
I LIKE PROSTITUTES better than Bears or Moose!

Hip

They are definitely easier to fit in the freezer

Wasn't there a famous killer up there that did just that?

we need pics of said prostitutes....

lol! I blame Kathi I could only think of this

https://www.justice.gov/usao-a...ide-outfitter-scheme

Press Release

Chinese national sentenced in illegal wildlife guide-outfitter scheme
Monday, January 13, 2025

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Chinese national was sentenced today to two years’ supervised release and agreed to turn over to the United States over $73,000 and a luxury vehicle related to an illegal guide-outfitter scheme he ran for over a year.

According to court documents, beginning in August 2021, Jun “Harry” Liang, 41, and his co-conspirator Brian Phelan, 53, of Fairbanks, conspired to provide guide-outfitter services for caribou and brown bear hunts out of Fairbanks. Neither defendant was licensed by the state of Alaska as a big game guide-outfitter.

During the 2022 hunting season, Liang collected $60,000 in advance payments from two undercover agents posing as non-resident hunters in exchange for guide-outfitter services for a brown bear hunt. The money was transferred to Liang’s account through wire transfer and deposited checks.

In furtherance of completing the hunt, in August 2022, Liang and Phelan falsely informed the Alaska Department of Fish and Game that Phelan was the brother-in-law of the two undercover agents, which ultimately led the Department to issue a non-resident brown bear permit and tag based on fraudulent information.

On Sept. 20, 2024, Liang pleaded guilty to one count of Lacey Act false labeling, and additional violations for failing to obtain a special recreation permit and engaging in business in park areas without a permit in Denali National Park. As part of his sentence for the Lacey Action violation, Liang is also required to pay a $10,000 fine. For guiding without a license on Federal Land, he will pay over $9,000 in restitution to the Bureau of Land Management.

On Dec. 30, 2024, Phelan was sentenced to two and a half years’ probation and fined $2,000 after pleading guilty to two counts of violating a regulation for management, use and protection of BLM land, and one count of Lacey Act false labeling.

“Hunting is a vital part of Alaskan communities, and Mr. Liang and Mr. Phelan unjustly enriched themselves through their conspiracy, harming law-abiding guide-outfitters in our state,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their dedication in dismantling Mr. Liang’s illegal operations and upholding our conservation laws. Hopefully this sentence, including the forfeiture of tens of thousands of dollars and goods, will deter others from committing wildlife violations.”

“This sentencing emphasizes our unwavering commitment to safeguarding wildlife and upholding the integrity of our conservation laws,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement will tirelessly pursue anyone exploiting our nation’s wildlife and attempting to make a profit from violating our wildlife laws. Individuals engaging in illegal hunting and guiding activities not only threaten our natural resources but also erode the trust and reputation of dedicated hunters and ethical guides within our communities. The defendants fraudulently secured over $70,000 in payments from hunters through these illegal activities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement will remain vigilant in its efforts to investigate and prosecute those who violate wildlife laws and regulations and related offenses.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Alaska Region, with assistance from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation Service, Seattle Field Office, investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Vosacek and Steve Skrocki prosecuted the case.

###

Contact
Reagan Zimmerman-Hartzheim

Public Affairs Officer

reagan.zimmerman@usdoj.gov

Updated January 13, 2025

Sounds like a dream hunt!

quote:

Originally posted by ismith:
Sounds like a dream hunt!

Unfortunately there are plenty of people who agree with you.

A man Named Sunny Elan who used to run similar elk hunts out of Colorado and then New Mexico
I met him at the Ft Lauderdale SCI where he was selling hunts. He asked me how many hunters I took each year, and when I told him he said “that would be a slow week for me “