The week-long, two-person bear hunt cost $60,000. But if the clients wanted to hire prostitutes to keep them company as they waited out their prey, they could shell out another $1,800 each, per evening—or $500 per sex act.
The bizarre pitch was part of what prosecutors say was an illicit years-long scheme to get rich off of illegal big-game hunts advertised on a Chinese-language social media platform. The alleged mastermind is now facing a slew of felony charges.
Guide Jun “Harry” Liang told clients that if they managed to net a bear, he’d purchase the gall bladder, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine but illegal to buy or sell under Alaska law, according to a newly unsealed criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Beast. If not, the feds say Liang told the men he had bear gall bladders for sale at $5,000 apiece—a relative bargain on today’s black market.
What Liang didn’t know, the complaint states, was that his customers were actually undercover federal agents wrapping up a year-long probe into his business. The effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) deployed an elaborate sting operation to get Liang, culminating in a long list of charges against the 40-year-old Fairbanks resident, including multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering, in addition to a trio of wildlife trafficking offenses.
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Liang advertised his services on the social media platform xiaohongshu.com, which means “Little Red Book” in Mandarin, and communicated with clients on the Chinese messaging app WeChat. In March, Liang, a Chinese national who the feds say is in the U.S. illegally on a tourist visa that expired in 2016, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of leading tours on federally managed land without a permit, and paid a $400 fine.
He bought himself a Mercedes with a portion of the proceeds of the ultimately unsuccessful expedition, according to the complaint, which also names his neighbor and occasional business partner Brian Phelan as a defendant. The complaint says Phelan worked alongside Liang for the first four days of the hunt, but took off two days early due to a conflict with his regular work schedule.
Reached by phone on Saturday, Phelan, 51, told The Daily Beast, “At this point, I don’t have a whole lot of clue as to what the hell is going on. I know that I am involved in something.”
Phelan said his lawyer told him that “the papers would be calling,” but advised him “not to say a lot to anybody.”
“All I can say is, things are not what they appear,” Phelan said, adding, “I don’t speak Mandarin, I don’t read Mandarin, I don’t read Mandarin.”
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An undercover HSI agent with Phelan at a shooting range in Alaska.
U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
He also said he made up the story he told Liang and the two undercover agents about having to get back to work.
“I left for what I thought was a just reason, but it was not a conflict at work,” Phelan explained, declining to provide further details. “I just told them that to avoid any issues.”
In an email, Liang’s attorney Gary Colbath said, “Sorry, no comment on pending matters.”
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The criminal inquiry into Liang began in October 2021, with a tip from a confidential source.
The source told investigators with the Alaska State Wildlife Troopers Wildlife Investigative Unit (WIU) about a trip the previous August that “a group of Chinese immigrants conducting unlicensed big game guided hunts” had led, and pointed them to an itinerary being advertised by Liang’s outfit, “AK Aurora Travel, Inc.,” on xiaohongshu.com. Liang also offers glacier tours and Aurora Borealis viewing, and “appears to solely market his services to Chinese nationals or Chinese national[s] living in the United States,” according to the complaint.
The WIU investigator contacted FWS agents, and they together reviewed AK Aurora Travel’s activity on xiaohongshu.com (which is misspelled as “xiahongshu” throughout the complaint).
Investigators said they were able to trace the company back to Liang thanks to a hunting license purchased with his credit card.
Monitoring Liang’s social media activity, investigators took note of a guided caribou hunt he appeared to have overseen, with additional references to “old American hunter Brian,” the complaint goes on. Using “investigative techniques” not explained in the complaint, FWS agents in Fairbanks then identified Phelan as the Jeep’s owner. Liang, the document says, turned out to live just a few doors down from Phelan.
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A photo of Phelan, posted to Liang’s social media.
U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
On Feb. 4, 2022, a Mandarin-speaking undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an agency under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, covertly contacted Liang on xiaohongshu.com and WeChat. Posing as a potential client, the agent said he was interested in a hunting trip for two people, the complaint states. It says Liang responded with an offer of a nine-day, eight-night caribou hunt for $24,300 per person, and a required hunting lesson costing between $1,100 and $1,300 a man.
A few days later, the undercover HSI agent followed up to ask about the possibility of a guided bear hunt in the fall. Liang said he’d have to check with his guide about availability, but that the price would be $60,000. He told the undercover agent to get back to him with a confirmed date, and pay a deposit, after which he would provide gear, guides, and lodging, according to the complaint. The undercover agent could have his kill butchered and shipped back home to eat, Liang reportedly told him.
In late June, the undercover agent sent Liang a $15,000 deposit for the bear hunt. About a month later, the undercover HSI agent, along with a second undercover agent, were in Fairbanks.
The two of them met with Liang and Phelan on Aug. 21 at Lin’s Asian Bistro, a Chinese restaurant not far from the Fairbanks International Airport, according to the complaint. There, the four discussed their itinerary, shooting lessons at a nearby range, and getting hunting licenses for the undercover agents. In the morning, Liang brought his two “clients” to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) office and helped them purchase black and brown bear tags and harvest tickets.
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The state has strict guidelines about who can legally bag bears, and nonresidents must be accompanied by varying combinations of Alaska residents and officially licensed guides. Neither Liang or Phelan are licensed as guides. Instead, the feds say Phelan, who spoke to the licensing official by phone, claimed to be the brother-in-law of one of the two undercover agents, misusing a loophole that allows relatives of residents to act as guides.
Permits in hand, the undercover agents gave Liang the $45,000 balance to complete payment for the hunt. That same day, “Liang paid Gene’s Chrysler in Fairbanks, AK, $20,000 for the purchase of a 2016 Mercedes SUV,” the complaint states. The group then drove to a shooting range, where the undercover agents could get their mandatory lesson.
“During the drive Liang offered to buy a bear gall bladder from [one of the undercover agents] if their hunt was successful,” according to the complaint. “State of Alaska law prohibits the sale of bear parts. Liang also offered to provide prostitutes to the [undercover agents] during their hunt.”
A hunting blind Liang and Phelan allegedly set up for two undercover agents posing as customers.
U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
After they were done at the range, Phelan drove Liang and the undercover agents in his Jeep to the Quartz Lake Campground, about 14 miles northwest of their hunting camp at Delta Junction. They spent the next three days waiting for a bear, without success, the complaint states.
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“Liang again offered prostitutes to the [undercover agents] for approximately $1,800 per night or $500 per sex act,” the complaint continues. “Liang also offered to sell the [undercover agents] bear gall bladder for $5,000 each.”
On Aug. 27, Phelan begged off from the remainder of the expedition.
“Phelan told the [undercover agents] that he could not continue with the hunt as he madf a mistake on his work schedule and had to go back to work,” the complaint says. “Phelan stated that ‘Harry’ (aka Liang) would take care of everything.”
Liang left a Savage Axis rifle behind with the two undercover agents at the campsite as he drove back to Fairbanks with Phelan, according to the complaint, which says Liang claimed to have paid Phelan “approximately $15,000 for his guide services.” Liang drove back that evening and the hunt allegedly resumed with him as guide.
On Aug. 28, 2022 without having successfully bagged a bear, the undercover agents said they needed to end the expedition, claiming there was an illness in the family. They tipped Liang $1,500 and parted ways with him on Aug. 29. On xiaohongshu.com, Liang “posted a photo of $1,500 in cash… and referred to a large tip from a client,” according to the complaint.
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Liang was arrested Thursday, and remains detained at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.
Phelan told The Daily Beast that he has plenty to say, but needs to wait until the case winds its way further through the system, per his lawyer’s advice.
He is due back in court on Aug. 10. Liang has a detention hearing scheduled for July 21.
“I don’t have anything to hide,” Phelan said. “If you want the full scoop, when this whole thing’s over, I’ll tell you everything… Because there’s a lot more to this than what they filed in court.”
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan welcomed Americans to enjoy the massive Sitka spruce that is currently making its way to the nation’s capitol by truck and praised the two drivers hauling the 85-foot tall tree.
In his weekly “Alaskan of the Week” address on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Thursday, Sullivan spent about 15 minutes explaining how the Capitol Christmas Tree — taken from the Tongass National Forest near the Southeast Alaska community of Wrangell — was selected and how it’s being transported nearly 5,000 miles to be put on display in Washington D.C.
The duo of Fred Austin of North Pole and John Shank of Fairbanks have been part of that journey. Austin is 89 years old and has driven commercially for 71 years, while Shank is about to hit 50 years driving for Lynden Transport.
Together, the duo have logged over 10 million miles of driving trucks in their career.
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Sullivan said the two will have driven through 12 states and 17 towns across the country before making it to D.C. on Friday.
See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com
vpso crop generic village public safety officer (Loren Holmes / ADN)
Under Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s leadership and with reliable funding from the Alaska Legislature, Alaska’s Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program has experienced substantial growth, reflecting Alaska’s commitment to public safety across its communities. The number of VPSOs working in our remote communities was once at 42 officers in January 2020 and has grown to a current total of 79, along with the introduction of Regional Public Safety Officers (RPSOs) and competitive wage adjustments, the VPSO program has become more robust and better equipped to serve the needs of rural Alaska.
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This increase in officer numbers is a significant accomplishment, expanding the safety network across Alaska’s rural communities. Each new VPSO represents not only an additional first responder but also a vital resource for residents in need of emergency response, search and rescue, and community safety support. By nearly doubling the number of officers in just a few years, the program has strengthened statewide readiness and improved the capacity to address Alaska’s unique rural challenges.
A key initiative supporting this growth has been the addition of Regional Public Safety Officers (RPSOs). RPSOs enhance the effectiveness of local VPSOs by providing a layer of specialized regional support, acting as a resource that multiple communities can rely on in times of need. They can respond quickly with the Alaska State Troopers to large-scale incidents, provide backup to VPSOs during demanding situations, and share essential resources across multiple villages. This novel regional approach ensures that communities have comprehensive public safety coverage including their local VPSO, regional RPSO, and the Alaska State Troopers.
Another major factor in the VPSO program’s expansion has been the increase in wages, making the role more competitive and sustainable as a career. Recognizing the high costs of living and the challenges of public safety work in rural Alaska, recent adjustments to VPSO compensation have made these positions more appealing to qualified candidates and have strengthened officer retention. This increase underscores the commitment required of VPSOs, who serve as the primary responders for some of Alaska’s most isolated communities. By offering competitive pay, the program attracts skilled individuals committed to public safety, building a more dedicated workforce equipped to serve Alaska’s rural residents.
These improvements in staffing, regional support through RPSOs, and wage enhancements have created a VPSO program that is more resilient and adaptable than ever before. VPSOs provide critical services to safeguard the well-being of residents, and the increased investment in personnel and resources underscores Alaska’s dedication to supporting its rural communities.
Looking ahead, the VPSO program will continue to focus on these priorities to ensure that Alaska’s rural communities have the support they need. We remain committed to working closely with Dunleavy, the Legislature, the regional VPSO grantees and Alaska’s villages to ensure that every village that wants a VPSO can have a VPSO.
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James Hoelscher is currently the director of the Alaska Department of Public Safety’s Village Public Safety Officer Operations Division. He previously worked as the chief of police in the Village of Hooper Bay, as a Village Public Safety Officer in Hooper Bay, and for the Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office.
The views expressed here are the writer’s and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)adn.com. Send submissions shorter than 200 words to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Read our full guidelines for letters and commentaries here.
Butter clams, important to many Alaskans’ diets, are notorious for being sources of the toxin that causes sometimes-deadly paralytic shellfish poisoning.
Now a new study is providing information that might help people harvest the clams more safely and monitor the toxin levels more effectively.
The study, led by University of Alaska Southeast researchers, found that the meat in larger butter clams have higher concentrations of the algal toxin that causes PSP, than does the meat in smaller clams.
“If you take 5 grams of tissue from a small clam and then 5 grams of tissue from a larger clam, our study suggested that (in) that larger clam, those 5 grams would actually have more toxins — significantly more toxins — than the 5 grams from that smaller clam,” said lead author John Harley, a research assistant professor at UAS’ Alaska Coastal Rainforest Center.
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Partners in the study were the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, which operates one of only two laboratories in the state that test shellfish for algal toxins, and with other organizations.
It is one of the few studies to examine how toxin levels differ between individual clams, Harley said.
The findings came from tests of clams collected from beaches near Juneau on five specific days between mid-June and mid-August of 2022.
The 70 clams collected, which were of varying sizes, yielded a median level of saxitoxins of 83 micrograms per gram, just above the 80-microgram limit. Toxin concentrations differed from clam to clam, ranging from so low that they were at about the threshold for detection to close to 1,100 micrograms per gram.
And there was a decided pattern: Toxin concentrations “were significantly positively correlated with butter clam size,” the study said.
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A woman sorts though a pile of butter clams on a dock in Alaska in 1965. Butter clams have long been harvested for personal consumption in Alaska. (Photo provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
Among the tested clams in the top 25% size, 81% had concentrations above the regulatory threshold, while among the quartile with the smallest size, only 19% came in at above the threshold.
The typical butter clam has a shell that is about 3 inches wide and up to 5 inches in length; clams in the study ranged in shell width from less than 1.5 inches to more than 4 inches. The mass of meat inside the shells of tested clams ranged from 3.87 grams to 110 grams, the study said.
The detections of toxins were in spite of the lack of significant algal blooms in the summer of 2022 – making that year an anomaly in recent years.
In sharp contrast, the summer of 2019 — a record-warm summer for Alaska — was marked by several severe harmful algal blooms. Near Juneau, toxin concentrations in blue mussels, another commonly consumed shellfish, were documented at over 11,000 micrograms per gram, and the toxins killed numerous fish-eating Arctic terns in a nesting colony in the area.
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Just why the butter clams tested for the new study showed concentrations of toxins in a low-bloom year is a question for further review.
Butter clams are known to pose special risks because they retain their algal toxins much longer than do other toxin-affected shellfish. Like other species, butter clams do detoxify over time, but they do so much more slowly, Harley said. The clams in the study were all at least a few years old, and there are some possible explanations for why they still retained toxins in the summer of 2022, he said.
“Maybe these larger clams, because they’ve been consistently exposed to harmful algal blooms several years in a row, maybe they just haven’t had a chance to detoxify particularly well,” he said.
The unusual conditions in the summer of 2022 mean that the results of this study may not be the same as those that would happen in a summer with a more normal level of harmful algal blooms, he said. “It still remains to be seen if this relationship between size and toxin is consistent over different time periods and different sample sites and different bloom conditions,” he said.
Research is continuing, currently with clams collected in 2023, he said. That was a more typical year, with several summer algal blooms.
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The algal toxin risks in Alaska are so widespread that experts have coined a slogan that reminds harvesters to send samples off for laboratory testing before eating freshly dug clams and similar shellfish: “Harvest and Hold.”
Harley said the fact that there are toxins in clams even when an active bloom is not present “is a very real concern” for those who have depended on harvest. The Southeast Alaska Tribal Ocean Research Network, known as SEATOR, has been monitoring shellfish in winter and other times beyond the usual months of algal blooms, he noted.
That monitoring has turned up cases of toxin-bearing shellfish well outside of the normal summer seasons. Just Tuesday, SEATOR issued an advisory about butter clams at Hydaburg, collected on Saturday, that tested above the regulatory limit for safe consumption.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/adn/VO3A23G6X5DG5BD2YOPOCUAV54.jpg "OPINION: VPSO growth strengthens Alaska public safety")
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