Two Michigan residents were sentenced in the Fairbanks U.S. District Court for unlawfully taking a Grizzly Bear, making a false statement to conceal the kill and transporting bear parts out of the state in a 2009 case according to U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler on Tuesday.

40-year-old Mark Peyerk and his mother 66-year-old Charlotte Peyerk were sentenced on Monday and the court fined each defendant $20,000, ordered defendants M. Peyerk and C. Peyerk to pay $10,000 and $5,000 dollars respectively in community service payments to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, required each defendant to write a public letter of apology to Safari Club International for submitting the fraudulent entry of the illegally taken bear, and ordered forfeiture of the hunting rifle and the bear. The court also prohibited the defendants from hunting during Mark Peyerk’s 5-year and Charlotte Peyerk’s 4-year terms of probation.

Magistrate Judge Scott Oravec pointed out at sentencing that besides the illegal taking of wildlife, the more aggravated criminal conduct of the multiple written false statements that covered up the illegal kill.

The mother and son had admitted in their plea agreements that they, along with their guides agreed that they should take the bear the day before the season opened in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. When a photo was taken of the kill, the photos date indicator was altered to make it look as if the kill was made on the opening day of the season. They also falsified the date of kill on a State of Alaska record and on a Safari Club International trophy entry form.

The Safari Club awarded Ms. Peyerk the “Diana Award” for “ethics in hunting” as a result. Peyerk has been ordered by the court to offer to return the award.

Fair Chase Hunts was investigated for illegal commercialization of wildlife resources, and registered guides Christopher Cassidfy and Master Guide Joe Hendricks were convicted along with almost a dozen other employees and clients of the commercial guide service.