A Kasilof couple is accused of illegally transporting game hunters in Northwest Alaska, after a multi-year investigation by the National Park Service.
According to federal court documents, 66-year-old Matthew Owen transported caribou hunters in the Noatak National Preserve, located about 100 miles north of Kotzebue, in 2019 and 2020. It is illegal for nonlocal hunters to hunt caribou and moose within the certain areas of preserve between the Noatak and Kobuk rivers from August until the end of September for the last two years.
Owen is charged with 10 counts of engaging in business without a permit, three counts of failure to follow a lawful order and one count of false information. His wife, Julie Owen, 60, is charged with one count of providing false information and one count of a permit violation.
If convicted, the couple face six months’ imprisonment and a $5,000 fine for each count. They could also be required to pay all costs of the legal proceedings as part of their sentence.
A representative from the U.S. Department of Justice did not respond to questions about the couple’s commercial operation, and could not confirm or deny any additional charges. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, proceedings of cases involving U.S. District Court Violation Notices are handled differently from regular cases, and detailed information about them is not publicly available.
The couple made their first court appearance on Thursday.
