Alaska State Trooper fishery investigation results in 2 being charged

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Saturday, October 24th, 2020 1:15pm

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Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - A Juneau couple has been charged with multiple crimes after an investigation by the Alaska State Troopers.

In April 2019, Troopers in Juneau began an investigation into illegal commercial fishing activities.

An investigation was conducted regarding Michael Duby, age 46 of Juneau, captain of the F/V Raindancer. 

The investigation resulted in charges being forwarded to the Department of Law’s Office of Special Prosecutions against Duby and his wife, Esther Rico, age 39 of Juneau. 

The charges were forwarded on Oct. 6.

Duby and Rico are accused of two felony counts of falsifying business records, two felony counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one misdemeanor count of selling commercially taken fish retained for personal use, one misdemeanor count of failing to complete fish tickets, one misdemeanor count of falsifying fish tickets, one misdemeanor count of commercial fishing for flounder during a closed season, one misdemeanor count of selling personal use taken shellfish, one misdemeanor count of failing to obtain a commercial clamming permit, one misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment, one misdemeanor count of failing to obtain a commercial fishing permit for Dusky Rockfish, and one misdemeanor count of selling groundfish retained for bait in a commercial fishery.

On Oct. 22, Duby and Rico were charged in the Juneau District Court and have a mandatory court appearance on Nov. 12.

As part of the investigation, a 27-foot SeaSport, the F/V Raindancer, belonging to Duby was seized by the State of Alaska.

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