Federal authorities have charged three Southeast Alaska fishermen with intentionally sinking their respective fishing boats in waters near Sitka and Petersburg in Southeast Alaska.
The charges were announced on March 3 by the office of the U.S. District of Alaska Attorney's office and the U.S. Coast Guard. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Speer with the U.S. Coast Guard.
John Fisher, 59, and Toni Vanveen, 65, both of Sitka, and Joseph Poling, 40, of Petersburg, were cited for allegedly sinking their vessels in separate incidents.
U.S. Attorney for the Alaska District Michael J. Heyman and Special Agent in Charge Paul Schultz of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service Northwest Field Office announced the charges in Juneau.
Court documents contend that Fisher intentionally sank the vessel Igloo into Sitka Sound on March 8, 2025; that Vanveen intentionally sank the O'kisutch into the Sitka Harbor between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, 2025; and that Poling intentionally sank the Leeward into Thomas Bay on Aug. 3, 2025.
All three are charged with one count of obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum of 30 days and up to one year in federal prison and a fine of up to $25,000 a day for every day the sunken vessel remains in the water.
A determination on sentencing is to be made by a district court judge.
Heyman and Schultz said the Coast Guard Investigative Service is investigating the cases with assistance from the Alaska Department of Conservation environmental Crimes Unit.
