Anchorage man pleads guilty to illegal trafficking in walrus ivory

An Anchorage man pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of illegally trafficking in walrus ivory and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and sentenced to two years on probation.

Uzi Levi, 71, of Anchorage, purchased six Pacific walrus tusks and one three-tusked Pacific walrus head mount from an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent, all of which is in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is unlawful for a non-Alaska Native to transport, purchase, sell, export or offer to purchase, sell or export any marine mammal or marine mammal product for any purpose other than public display, scientific research or enhancing the survival of a species or stock or any marine mammal part that has not been made into an authentic Native article of handicraft.

In June 2020, a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service observed what appeared to be an Alaska Native male carrying a two-tusked walrus head mount into the car rental business office owned by Levi and then leave without it.

A few weeks later, an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent went to Levi’s car rental business and inquired about renting a vehicle. He explained that he didn’t have a lot of money and asked if there were other ways to rent a vehicle, such as trade or barter. The unidentified person at the business called Levi and handed the phone to the undercover agent.

During this call and over the next eight months, Levi and the agent exchanged numerous phone calls and texts about the purchase of raw walrus ivory, which resulted in Levi purchasing six Pacific walrus tusks and one tusked walrus head mount in 2020.

Levi pleaded guilty to both counts and was sentenced before U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason, the U.S. Department of Justice announced last Thursday.

In handing down the sentence regarding Levi’s trafficking in raw ivory, Judge Gleason said: “The defendant’s actions really impact Alaska Native artists who are trying to market their products.”