According the Law Enforcement Agent Steve Tuttle, Wells worked as a contractor for the U.S. Air Force on Shemya on the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in the summers of 1992, 1993 and 1994. "It is illegal for anyone to dig or disturb artifacts on Federal Land, n Tuttle said. People who are prosecuted under the Archeological Resource Protection Act can be convicted of a felony and sentenced to up to five years in jail and required to pay a $250,000 fine.
As part of an agreement reached with the Federal Government, Wells gave up his right to a hearing, forfeited the artifacts, agreed to cooperate with the Service archeologist to identify the original dig sites and paid a $500 penalty for violations of the Archaeological Resource Protection Act.
"Artifacts are precious clues to our past. Most of them are delicate from age, and should only be moved by a trained archeologist, N U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service archeologist, Debra Corbett said. "Disturbing artifacts can not only ruin the artifact itself, it can erase all clues to who made it, how old it is and how it got to its resting place."
In a cooperative effort between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Aleut Corporation, the forfeited items will become part of an educational, portable exhibit available to tour Alaska.
"This is a beautiful collection," Corbett said. "Although its a shame that they were removed from the island, Im glad that we will be able to share them with all Alaskans through a portable exhibit."
-FWS-
