An Alaska Pilot Was Going to Lose His Plane Over a 6-Pack of Beer. Now the Supreme Court Will Hear His Case

An Alaska pilot’s fight over forfeiting his plane after transporting a passenger with a six-pack of beer is now headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Kenneth Jouppi, a bush pilot, was transporting a passenger and groceries from Fairbanks to Beaver, a community classified as “dry” since 2004, on April 3, 2012. Alaska state troopers searched the aircraft and found a six-pack of beer in plain view; Jouppi said he did not know about the alcohol, but he was fined $1,500 and sentenced to three days in jail, according to the Institute for Justice, which represents him. Despite the misdemeanor case, IJ says Alaska sought to forfeit his Cessna U206D, reportedly worth about $95,000, for 14 years. In April 2025, the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the forfeiture, concluding it did not violate the Excessive Fines Clause. On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to review the matter, with Jouppi arguing the government overreach violates the Bill of Rights.