Fake Indian jewelry case took years to unravel

摘要

The Justice Department wrapped up a case yesterday bizarrely titled United States v. 99,337 Pieces ofCounterfeit Native American Jewelry, closing an additional chapter in a colorful Fish and Wildlife Service lawenforcement saga now approaching its denouement.In a settlement agreement that was a long time coming, the government will keep $288,739 and counterfeitjewelry seized in October 2015 by FWS and FBI agents. Certain other jewelry pieces will be released and shippedback to the Philippines.The settling of the federal civil forfeiture case in New Mexico now leaves unfinished only the sentencing of twomen who pleaded guilty April 30 to misrepresenting Native American-style jewelry made in the Philippines."These defendants endeavored to cheapen the cultural heritage of Native American artists by passing offimported trinkets as authentic Indian jewelry," U.S. Attorney John Anderson said. "In so doing, they underminedconfidence in New Mexico's vibrant market for traditional Native artwork."