prosecutions Archives

Antiquities Trafficking Investigation Reveals Suspected Ties to Terrorism and Money Laundering — “Seize and Send” Outcome Flags Need for Special Prosecutors

ByRick St. Hilaire September 30, 2015April 26, 2023

ICE returned smuggled antiquities to Afghanistanduring a photo-op held in Washington, DC in 2013.No prosecutions resulted from the case. Newly obtained documents released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reveal…

organized crime | prosecutions | United Nations

Cultural Property Crime on the U.N. Agenda: Upcoming Crime Conference Set to Tackle Heritage Trafficking

ByRick St. Hilaire March 16, 2015April 26, 2023

When the U.N. Security Council last month adopted a resolution targeting terrorists’ ability to raise money, cultural heritage trafficking took a visible spot on the global stage. Now the U.N….

Canadian Man Charged with Trafficking Dinosaur Fossils from China

ByRick St. Hilaire February 21, 2015April 26, 2023

U.S. District Court in Tucson, AZ. A man has been arrested in Arizona for allegedly trying to sell dinosaur fossils imported from China to undercover federal agents. Jun Yang, a…

Cultural Heritage Trafficking Requires Deterrence

ByRick St. Hilaire December 17, 2014April 26, 2023

Police officers are good at tracking down and arresting criminals. Prosecutors are good at securing convictions, even in some of the most complex cases. So why aren’t police and prosecutors…

forfeiture actions | Loretta Lynch | New York | prosecutions

The Cultural Property Cases of AG Nominee Loretta Lynch

ByRick St. Hilaire November 8, 2014April 26, 2023

U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch It is not every day that an attorney general nominee actually has a record of handling cultural property forfeitures and prosecutions. But that is the case…

due diligence | fossils | prosecutions | U.S. v. Eric Prokopi | United States v. One Tyrannosaurus Bataar Skeleton

Dinosaur Cases Offer Due Diligence Lesson

ByRick St. Hilaire July 14, 2014April 26, 2023

Cultural property attorneys should inform their dealer and collector clients that due diligence and a transparent marketplace are necessary to steer clear of contraband heritage that is offered for sale….