A fisheries and resources aide to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski pleaded guilty to violating sablefish catch limits, court records that were filed Monday revealed.
Arne Fuglvog, who worked in Murkowski’s office for five years, agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor violation of the Lacey Act. He entered the plea as part of an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The deal was made in April, but was only announced this week. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Steward did not respond to a phone call Tuesday regarding the delay between the April 8 signing of the plea agreement and its being filed in federal court Monday. Also unclear is how the case came to the attention of federal prosecutors.
In a statement provided by his Anchorage lawyer, Jeff Feldman, Fuglvog stated, “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to work for Senator Murkowski on behalf of Alaska. I deeply regret the mistakes I made before I came to work in the U.S. Senate and fully accept the consequences of my actions.”
If a judge agrees to the terms of the deal, Fuglvog will spend 10 months in prison, pay a $50,000 fine and send another $100,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for enhancing fisheries in the coastal areas of the Gulf of Alaska.
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