Conviction For Illegal Commercial Operations

In 2006, the park received several tips that Donald R. Lee, 53, of Talkeetna was conducting glacier landing flight instruction on several glaciers within the park through his business, Alaska Floats and Skis. Lee did not have a permit or authorization to conduct such business activity. He was advised both verbally and by letter to cease his activities in the park, but failed to do so. An undercover operation was accordingly planned. In 2007, ranger/pilot Pete Christian from Gates of the Arctic worked online to sign up for Lee’s three-day course offering. Over two days in March, Lee flew a total of 5.1 hours with Christian and made about 20 landings, approximately ten of which were on glaciers in the park. A search warrant for business records was subsequently executed at his Talkeetna residence. Special agent Beth Shott assisted Denali rangers with the seizure of computer records and subsequent forensic analysis. On July 7th, Lee pled guilty in federal court in Anchorage to one count under 36 CFR 5.3. Pursuant to a plea agreement, he was fined $5,000, placed on supervised probation for three years, and banned from flying within the boundary of the park for three years. The magistrate judge ordered that the fine be paid into the park’s wildlife protection fund. The park received superb support from AUSA Steven Skrocki, who prosecuted the case. The case agent was lead mountaineering ranger John Leonard.