Case library · Busted!
Out of the Water
United States v. Daniels (2025)
Charge: Fishing-records fraud / illegal takeCourt: U.S. District Court, D. AlaskaState: AlaskaDocket: Busted!
Were the fish unlawfully taken and mislabeled, and was shooting at a protected whale an unlawful taking?
The facts
A boat captain filed catch papers saying his sablefish came from federal waters. They had come from two straits inside state waters, where he had no right to take them, and were worth about $127,528. Months before that, in open water, he came across a sperm whale, a protected animal. He told a crewman to shoot it several times and drove the boat at it. No carcass was ever found.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: United States v. Daniels (D. Alaska 2025)
Read more at justice.gov. The source reveals the outcome.