Photo: United States District Court
Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, the man who was seen on video throwing a rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Maui last week, was charged with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. Special agents from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made the arrest on Wednesday near Seattle after charges were officially filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Hawaii on Tuesday morning.
The initial criminal complaint describes observing Lytvynchuk as he threw a large rock at the head of Lani, a Hawaiian monk seal who’s become beloved in the area over the past two decades.
“I don’t care, I’m rich. I love Maui and I visit here every few months,” he can be heard saying in a viral video of the incident .
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) did not initially share Lytvynchuk’s identity as he had not been charged when the investigation began. Now that charges have been filed and an arrest made, he faces up to one year in prison for each charge if convicted, plus a term of supervised release. He also faces a fine of up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and a fine of up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act if convicted.
“The unique and precious wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned symbols of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity. We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild species, in particular endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court.”
The United States Attorney’s Office says Lytvynchuk was in custody as of Wednesday and scheduled for an initial court appearance in Seattle on the morning of May 14, 2026.
