HSI Special Agents Train Iraqi Police to Combat Illegal Goods Trafficking

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad hosted a delegation of nine American subject matter experts in the fields of federal law enforcement, justice and cultural heritage protection including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, from Dec. 17 to 20 at a training conference on "Countering Antiquities Trafficking." The four-day training, sponsored by HSI in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, was provided to the Iraqi Ministry of Interior police investigators representing 15 provinces on methods of identifying Iraqi cultural heritage sites, and preventing and investigating looting and illegal trafficking within and beyond Iraq's borders.

Assistant Chief of Mission Ambassador James Knight opened the conference stating that, "Perhaps the most important reason for organizing a meeting such as this is Iraq's unparalleled cultural heritage. Preserving that heritage is to preserve some of mankind's greatest treasures. Not only are they a precious window into the past, they are tangible reminders to future generations of Iraqis of a glorious history."

"The countering antiquities trafficking conference in Baghdad marked a new beginning in HSI's efforts in assisting Iraqi Antiquities Police in their fight against the illegal trafficking of Iraq's cultural property," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ransom Avilla, HSI liaison in Baghdad. "We are hopeful that this training conference will provide the tools necessary for Iraqi Ministry of Interior police to detect, investigate and protect their national heritage."

Other law enforcement agencies that participated in the training conference included U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Justice, Interpol and the U.S. National Park Service.

In July 2011, ICE repatriated to the government of Iraq a collection of objects illegally imported into the United States from Iraq. The objects included Saddam Hussein-era paintings and two AK-47 rifles, and a Western Asiatic necklace (circa 3rd-2nd millennium B.C.). These objects were discovered as part of four separate investigations by HSI special agents in Tampa, Fla.; Newark, N.J.; El Paso, Texas, and Little Rock, Ark. In February 2010, ICE repatriated six objects to Iraq ranging from its ancient past to its recent political history. The collection that was returned included a stone tablet with ancient writing, a Babylonian clay statue, a Roman coin, ancient gold earrings and a chrome-plated AK-47 inscribed with a picture of Saddam Hussein. 

In 2008, ICE returned 1,046 artifacts that were seized in four separate investigations dating back to 2001. The items included terra cotta cones inscribed in Cuneiform text, a praying god figurine that was once imbedded in a Sumerian temple and coins bearing the likenesses of ancient emperors. Remnants of ancient Cuneiform tablets, which were seized by the Customs Service in 2001, were recovered from beneath the ruins of the World Trade Center. The ancient tablets were subsequently restored and returned to the government of Iraq. These repatriations are the latest in a series that ICE has returned to the people of Iraq since the agency was created in 2003.

HSI plays a leading role in criminal investigations that involve the illegal importation and distribution of cultural property, including the illicit trafficking of cultural property, especially objects that have been reported lost or stolen. The HSI Office of International Affairs, through its 73 attaché offices in 47 countries, works closely with foreign governments to conduct joint investigations, when possible.

HSI specially trained investigators, assigned to both domestic and international offices, partner with governments, agencies and experts to protect cultural antiquities. They also provide cultural property investigative training to law enforcement partners for crimes involving stolen property and art, and how to best enforce the law to recover these items when they emerge in the marketplace.

Since 2007, more than 6,600 artifacts have been returned to 24 countries, including paintings from France, Germany, Poland and Austria, 15th to 18th century manuscripts from Italy and Peru, as well as cultural artifacts from China, Cambodia and Iraq. 

Stolen Indian Artifacts Seized by HSI

Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized two antique statues Oct. 23 from a Manhattan hotel. These statues were seized as part of an ongoing HSI Cultural Property, Art and Antiquities Program investigation into an alleged dealer of stolen antiquities.

"We recognize that art and antiquities are assigned a dollar value in the marketplace," said James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New York. "But the cultural and symbolic worth of these items far surpasses any monetary value to the people and nations of the origin of these works. HSI remains a committed partner in the effort to ensure that items like these are returned to their rightful owners."

HSI special agents executed a search warrant Oct. 23 issued for a hotel located in Manhattan. The hotel was allegedly lent these statues by Art of the Past gallery, which is owned by Subhash Kapoor. In July, an arrest warrant for Kapoor was issued by the Manhattan Criminal Court on charges he possessed stolen property.

The statues seized include:

·                             A grey schist bust of a Bodhisattva from Gandhara, from the second to third century A.D.: and

·                             A white sandstone sculpture depicting a Ganesha from India, from the 10th century A.D.

The total value of seizure is estimated at $1.7 million.

In February 2007, the Indian consulate contacted HSI requesting assistance in the investigation of the potential smuggling of Indian antiquities into New York. The Indian consulate advised HSI that an import and export company was expecting the arrival of a shipment containing seven crates manifested as "Marble Garden Table Sets." The consulate believed these crates contained stolen Indian antiquities. This merchandise was allegedly imported by Kapoor.

As a result of this investigation, HSI special agents in New York have seized over 100 antiquities with an estimated value of $75 million. Notable items seized include:

·                             One five foot tall head of a Buddha weighing approximately 1,600 pounds;

·                             One life sized stone figure weighing approximately 500 pounds;

·                             A bronze sculpture, depicting Uma Parvati, valued at nearly $2.5 million; and

·                             A second century B.C. Bharhut Stupa Yaksi pillar sculpture valued at nearly $15 million.

This investigation has uncovered that Kapoor allegedly created false provenances to disguise the histories of his illicit antiquities. Investigators urge collectors and museums to further scrutinize their collections and contact HSI with any additional information. HSI will aggressively pursue the illicit pieces not yet recovered.

Kapoor, who was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, was arrested in late 2011 at Frankfurt International Airport in Germany. Kapoor was extradited to India July 2012, where he faced criminal charges.

HSI plays a leading role in criminal investigations that involve the illegal importation and distribution of cultural property, including the illicit trafficking of cultural property, especially objects that have been reported lost or stolen. The HSI Office of International Affairs, through its 72 attaché offices in 47 countries, works closely with foreign governments to conduct joint investigations, when possible.

HSI specially trained investigators, assigned to both domestic and international offices, partner with governments, agencies and experts to protect cultural antiquities. They also train investigators from other nations and agencies on investigating crimes involving stolen property and art, and how to best enforce the law to recover these items when they emerge in the marketplace.

This seizure highlights the critical assistance Interpol provides in international cases. The Manhattan District Attorney Office, under the leadership of Cyrus R. Vance Jr., is prosecuting the case. The office has been instrumental in furthering these complex investigations.
Since 2007, HSI has repatriated more than 2,500 items to more than 23 countries.

HSI Arrest Florida Dinosaur Enthusiast for Stealing Dinosaur Bones from Mongolia

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested Eric Prokopi, 38, of Gainesville, Fla., early Wednesday, October 17, 2012, pursuant to a federal criminal complaint charging him with multiple crimes relating to a scheme to illegally import dinosaur fossils into the United States, including a nearly complete Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton from Mongolia, a Saurolophus angustirostris skeleton, also from Mongolia, and a Microraptor skeleton from China.

Prokopi was arrested the morning of Wednesday, October 17, 2012, by HSI special agents at his home in Gainesville, Fla., and was presented at the federal courthouse in Gainesville the afternoon of Wednesday, October 17, 2012. Prokopi is charged with one count of conspiracy to smuggle illegal goods, possess stolen property and make false statements. If convicted on this charge, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He is also charged with smuggling goods into the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and interstate sale and receipt of stolen goods, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Prokopis arrest follows an earlier civil suit filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office Southern District of New York (USAO SDNY) seeking forfeiture of the Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton so that it can be returned to Mongolia. That action is pending before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated, "As alleged, our recent seizure of the Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton from Eric Prokopi was merely the tip of the iceberg – our investigation uncovered a one-man black market in prehistoric fossils. In addition to our commitment to ensuring that these relics are returned to their countries of origin, we are equally committed to shutting down Prokopis illegal business and holding him to account for his alleged crimes."

HSI NY Special Agent in Charge James T. Hayes Jr. said, "The arrest of Eric Prokopi and the recent seizure of the Saurolophus angustirostris fossil sends a clear message that HSI does not tolerate the sale of allegedly stolen cultural artifacts. We want to make this illegal business practice extinct in the U.S. This fossil is a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Mongolian people. HSI will preserve the fossil and return it to its rightful owner."

The following allegations are based on the complaint unsealed Wednesday, October 17, 2012, in Manhattan federal court, the amended civil forfeiture complaint and statements made in court proceedings:

Prokopi owns and runs a business called "Everything Earth" out of his Florida home and is a self-described "commercial paleontologist." He buys and sells whole and partial fossilized dinosaur skeletons. Between 2010 and 2012, the defendant acquired dinosaur fossils from foreign countries and unlawfully transported them to the United States, misrepresenting the contents of the shipments on customs forms. Many of the fossils in Prokopis possession were indigenous to Mongolia and could only be found in that country.

In fact, Mongolian officials have uncovered a witness who accompanied Prokopi to an excavation site in 2009 and observed him physically taking bones out of the ground. Since 1924, Mongolia has enacted laws declaring dinosaur fossils to be the property of the Mongolian government and criminalizing their export from the country.

One of the fossils Prokopi unlawfully imported into the U.S. is the skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus bataar, a dinosaur that lived during the late Cretaceous period, approximately 70 million years ago. When importing this skeleton, Prokopi made a number of misrepresentations about its identity, origin and value. The Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton was sold at an auction in Manhattan for more than $1 million, pending the resolution of court proceedings that were instituted on behalf of the Mongolian government in an effort to reclaim the skeleton prior to the sale, but after the auction materials were published. When he heard about the court proceedings, Prokopi responded by emailing an individual who works for Heritage Auctions – the institution that put the skeleton up for sale – stating, in part, "If (the Mongolian president) only wants to take the skeleton and try to put an end to the black market, he will have a fight and will only drive the black market deeper underground."

Prokopi also illegally imported from Mongolia the skeleton of a Saurolophus angustirostris, another dinosaur from the late Cretaceous period that he ultimately sold to the I.M. Chait gallery in California. In addition, Prokopi unlawfully sold the fossils of two other dinosaurs native to Mongolia, Gallimimus and Oviraptor mongoliensis, and imported the fossilized remains of a Microraptor, a small, flying dinosaur from China.

The investigation is being conducted by HSI New York.

HSI plays a leading role in criminal investigations that involve the illegal importation and distribution of cultural property, as well as the illicit trafficking of artwork. The agency specializes in recovering works that have been reported lost or stolen. The HSI Office of International Affairs, through its 71 attaché offices in 47 countries, works closely with foreign governments to conduct joint investigations, when possible.

HSI specially trained investigators, assigned to both domestic and international offices, partner with governments, agencies and experts to protect cultural antiquities. They also train investigators from other nations and agencies on investigating crimes involving stolen property and art, and how to best enforce the law to recover these items when they emerge in the marketplace.

Since 2007, HSI has repatriated more than 2,500 items to more than 23 countries.

The criminal case is being prosecuted by the USAO SDNYs Complex Frauds Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin S. Bell. The ongoing civil forfeiture case is being handled by the Offices Asset Forfeiture Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharon Cohen Levin and Martin S. Bell are in charge of the forfeiture case.

The charges against Prokopi are merely allegations. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.