News Release

Man sentenced to prison for weapon violation in Denali National Park

Date: August 19, 2021
Contact: NPS Investigative Services Branch (ISB), [phone]

Following an investigation by US Park Rangers and Special Agents with the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB), a man was recently sentenced to serve time in prison for a weapon violation in Denali National Park, Alaska. The interagency investigation stemmed from an incident in September 2019.

Court documents show that on September 10, 2019, US Park Rangers conducted a vehicle stop within the park for excessive speed. Rangers identified the driver as Vincent L. Roberts, age 36, and determined he was on probation and was a convicted felon. During a search of the vehicle, rangers located ammunition and a firearm in Robert’s property. The ensuing investigation led to Roberts being indicted by a grand jury and arrested in May 2020.

Roberts pleaded guilty at a separate court hearing to count 1 of the indictment, the unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. During the sentencing hearing, Roberts was ordered to serve 16 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. This sentence is to run consecutively to a sentence imposed by the State of Alaska for which Roberts is currently imprisoned and will begin on or about April 22, 2022.

Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also assisted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Doty of the US Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska. Persons convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year, and/or other stipulations under 18 US Code § 922(g), are prohibited from possessing, receiving, transporting, or shipping firearms or ammunition.