Ambler Air president pleads guilty to importing alcohol

THE SOUNDER STAFF
sounder@alaskanewspapers.com

June 11, 2008 at 2:57PM AKST

Ambler Air Service Inc. president, David L. Rue, today pleaded guilty to the charge of liquor importation into a dry village, according to the state’s Office of Special Prosecutions.

Rue also pleaded guilty on behalf of his company.

Both Rue and Ambler Air were charged with importing alcoholic beverages into Ambler – a community of 277 voted dry by its residents in 1982.

On March 21, police at the Fairbanks airport received two reports that a passenger would transport alcohol and/or drugs from Fairbanks on Rue’s aircraft to either Shungnak or Ambler in Northwest Alaska, according to a written statement from the office.

Following a search of the aircraft, Alaska State Troopers discovered the package contained various amounts of beer and whiskey, including alcoholic beverages and marijuana in baggage belonging to other passengers.Rue received a sentence of 180 days in jail with 160 days suspended and four years probation pursuant to a plea agreement with the state.

As part of the agreement, Ambler Air was sentenced to a fine of $85,000 with $65,000 suspended and four years probation.The corporation also agreed to forfeit the 1976 aircraft as required by Alaska law with the option to purchase the plane back for $35,000.