Three Southeast Alaska fishermen charged with intentionally sinking boats

Two men from Sitka, one from Petersburg arrested by federal officials for unrelated incidents between March and October of 2025

Fishing vessels in Hoonah. (Original public domain image from Flickr)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

Three Southeast Alaska fishermen have been charged in separate investigations with intentionally sinking their respective fishing boats in waters near Sitka and Petersburg, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The incidents occurred between March 8 and Oct. 3 of 2025, according to a DOJ press release issued Tuesday.

"On March 8, 2025, John Fisher, 59, of Sitka, intentionally sunk the F/V Igloo into the Sitka Sound," the release states. "On Aug. 3, 2025, Joseph Poling, 40, of Petersburg, intentionally sunk the F/V Leeward into Thomas Bay; Between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, 2025, Toni Vanveen, 65, of Sitka, intentionally sunk the F/V O’kisutch into the Sitka Harbor."

All three men were charged with one count of obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel. Each faces a mandatory minimum of 30 days and up to one year in federal prison, plus a fine of up to $25,000 per day for every day the sunken vessel remains in the water, if convicted.

The three men are scheduled to make their initial federal court appearances in Anchorage on March 13, according to Reagan Zimmerman-Hartzheim, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office. She said there is no connection between the cases despite the similar nature of the charges and simultaneous court date.

The cases appear to be highly unusual, with a Google website and news searches for the federal charge of "obstruction of navigable waters by sinking a vessel" turning up few incident or arrest results. Among them are a New York man who pleaded guilty to sinking a 25-foot Bayliner boat in Lake Ontario in 2022 and subsequently lying about the incident to investigators. In 2017, two San Diego ship owners pleaded guilty to intentionally sinking their vessel for the insurance money.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.