Feds: 3 arrested for selling fake American Indian jewelry

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

October 29, 2015

Feds: 3 arrested for selling fake American Indian jewelry

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS
Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Federal authorities have announced three New Mexico residents have been indicted in a scam to sell Filipino-made jewelry as American Indian made.

U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez said Thursday the three individuals were recently arrested following a long investigation and a raid of jewelry stores in Albuquerque, Gallup, New Mexico, and Calistoga, California.

According to the indictment unsealed Thursday, 51-year-old Nael Ali, 53-year-old Mohammad Abed Manasra, and 41-year-old Christina Bowen are facing charges of violating the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Court documents say Ali owned two jewelry stores in Albuquerque's Old Town.

. . .

Martinez says Filipino authorities also conducted interviews at two factories in the Philippines.

Read more: http://www.modbee.com/news/state/article41796039.html#storylink=cpy

[IcyPeas]

1. I never knew there was an Indian Arts and Crafts Act....

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644) is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian Tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States. For a first time violation of the Act, an individual can face civil or criminal penalties up to a $250,000 fine or a 5-year prison term, or both. If a business violates the Act, it can face civil penalties or can be prosecuted and fined up to $1,000,000.

Under the Act, an Indian is defined as a member of any federally or officially State recognized Indian Tribe, or an individual certified as an Indian artisan by an Indian Tribe.

The law covers all Indian and Indian-style traditional and contemporary arts and crafts produced after 1935. The Act broadly applies to the marketing of arts and crafts by any person in the United States. Some traditional items frequently copied by non-Indians include Indian-style jewelry, pottery, baskets, carved stone fetishes, woven rugs, kachina dolls, and clothing.

All products must be marketed truthfully regarding the Indian heritage and tribal affiliation of the producers, so as not to mislead the consumer. It is illegal to market an art or craft item using the name of a tribe if a member, or certified Indian artisan, of that tribe did not actually create the art or craft item.

https://iacb.doi.gov/act.html

[Warpy]

3. There is and it's a good idea.

Truth in labeling slowed the flow of cheap knockoffs from Asia. While there is nothing wrong with cheap knockoffs from Asia, the Act just makes sure they're labeled so you know what you're getting and don't overpay.

One of a kind items from local tribal craftspeople command a premium price. These shopkeepers were ripping people off.

[leftofcool]

10. Yes, and premium price =quality and authenticity

[Dont call me Shirley]

2. Best to buy at the pueblos.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. I bought some jewelry from some Indians who had spread out a blanket of jewelry

in front of the Palace of the Governors. That was back in 1985.

[Dont call me Shirley]

24. Thank you for supporting the good cause.

[Art_from_Ark]

29. I had a nice chat with them

It was fascinating to talk to them. I hope to go back to the Santa Fe/Taos area again some day, it was a wonderful experience.

[Skittles]

30. I agree

when I was in New Mexico I was more fascinated by the native Americans than I was by the tourist sites......LOVED talking to them.....heh, they said they noticed me too, because I did not have a camera

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

26. Best to buy at www.wingssilverworks.com

But then I'm biased, because I think Ajijaakwe and Wings are wonderful people in addition to being strong Native American advocates and talented artists.

[Dont call me Shirley]

32. Beautiful work! Thanks for the link, Erich!

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

33. Thank you!

Hope you find something or somethings you like enough to buy

They're overly kind to a fault, and are constantly taking up damaged strays to heal, which takes money they don't have to spend. They've got a horse that just came to them a few days ago, that was injured and is going to need a lot of work, and they're not sure if she'll even make it or not, while at the same time they're trying to crowdsource building themselves a house (they lost their last one to a bank 5 years ago) when the tourist trade declined precipitously down by the pueblos.

[jtuck004]

5. We might have committed a genocide of over 50 million indigenous people, but by golly,

we will then bring the power of the government established on top of those bones to bear and prevent anyone from selling fake turquoise.

It strikes me that this was more to prevent white folks from losing money than to protect any crafter. But that's just me.

[leftofcool]

9. Actually no.

The Act is to prevent people from claiming something is Native American made when it isn't thereby taking resources away from legitimate NA products.

[jtuck004]

12. White folks murder tens of millions of people and then suddenly are all about their welfare. Uh-huh.

Hey, if you are comfortable with that one, go for it. My standards are different, I suspect.

[leftofcool]

16. I am very comfortable with Native Americans

not having their crafts stolen by white folks.

[jtuck004]

17. Many people are more comfortable than those living on the POW camps we call "reservations" n/t

[EX500rider]

19. Wow, POW camps? So they can't leave and are surrounded by fences and guards?

That's horrible if it was true which it isn't.

[EX500rider]

18. "White folks murder tens of millions of people"

OMG, who did that , we should put them in jail!!! Or do you mean people long dead did something bad?

The people who did that (and the vast majority of Native Americans died of European diseases they had no immunity to)
aren't "suddenly" doing anything but pushing up posies.

[mopinko]

34. suddenly? you mean like, over the course of 100 years or so?

suddenly? give me a break.

[jtuck004]

35. So they leave them in prisoner of war camps, but pass a bill that makes sure the stuff

they buy from the craftsperson is genuine. so it doesn't screw up the tourist trade.

The compassion just oozes, you're right. Ought erect a fucking statue to those magnanimous genocidal ass clowns or something.tr

This argument sounds very much like one made by the "very passionate" people one of our presidential candidates thinks so much of.

You can discuss it with yourself now.

[mopinko]

36. that is a ridiculous statement. pow camps?

i dont like what goes on on many reservations, but people are free to leave them. they arent prisons.

[denbot]

20. Your just wrong.

Last edited Fri Oct 30, 2015, 01:58 AM - Edit history (1)

I've made and sold Native American silver and turquoise jewelry in California, and New Mexico. The Federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act is a vital tool in protecting Indigenous Artists from unscrupulous dealers preying on both NA jewelry consumers, and the Artists who struggle to represent their Nations, preserve their cultures, and feed their families.

In Gallup one of the sleaziest shops used to be the Ortega's chain. Some, but not all were owned by some middle eastern dude who's name escaped me, but he would salt his collection with mostly Philippine made crap. He would often send NA made pieces from his shop to the Philippines to be copied, mass produced, then sent back to be sold as NA made.

After being repeatedly caught, he would then have components made over seas (again mostly the Philippines, but also Thailand), then sent back to Gallup, where he put together "jobber" shops, which hired some NA for sub minimum wages to assemble enough pieces to "hide" fully foreign made pieces of the same design. I don't know if he is still doing it, but he was pretty active 10 years ago.


Here is some of my work from about ten years ago.

A ring made with turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty Mine (Kingman AZ)

[IMG][/IMG]

These two bracelets are made with turquoise from the Royston Mine (Tonapha NV)

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

This bracelet was made with turquoise from the Morince Mine (Morince AZ)

[IMG][/IMG]

This one is made with Bisbee Blue Turquoise, from the Bisbee Mine (Bisbee AZ)

[IMG][/IMG]

You could not be more wrong about the law being there to mainly protect "White" customers!

denbot,
Chiricahua Apache Nation.

On Edit, I misidentified the turquoise as Kingman in my OP, then corrected it to Morince.

[jtuck004]

21. There are always people who think it is more important to save the Master's house than

their own, or their neighbors. Their excuses never end, and the harm they enable is never their fault. They are sure.

NIce pics, nice work. Doesn't change a damn thing.

You take care.

[denbot]

22. You correct in that it doesn't change a thing, which is you're still wrong.

The act is to protect Native Artists.

[jtuck004]

23. Lol. See as little as you want. It's simpler that way, I'll give you that. n/t

[LanternWaste]

38. You've devolved into the position that anyone disagreeing with your allegation are...

You've devolved into the position that anyone disagreeing with your allegation are simply enabling and condoning slavery.

And while I certainly empathize with both the ethical and rational short-cuts it may allow you, it hardly seems a reason to hold your positions in any valid format beyond bemused entertainment, regardless of the irrelevancy of whether someone is taking care or not...

[Dont call me Shirley]

25. Beautiful artwork, denbot!

[leftofcool]

27. Your work is positively gorgeous!

I hope you are still making lovelies! Some people will never understand how the NA arts and crafts act has helped so many to preserve their cultures.

[closeupready]

28. Gorgeous works. On a trip to the Grand Canyon a few years back,

I purchased a silver/turquoise keychain fob - for whatever reason, I just love it and I remember that trip every time I look at it - no kidding.

[romanic]

31. Bravo to your post

Your work is lovely btw, great craftsmanship.

[LanternWaste]

37. Your allegation strikes me as a most accurate example of the fallacy

Your allegation strikes me as a most accurate example of the fallacy, post hoc ergo prompter hoc.

[2naSalit]

6. Good!

I always buy from folks on the rez that I know personally or at places I know are legit.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Got a hunch this just the tip

of the Berg. Go to any so called Flea Market and you will find all kinds of knockoffs. Mexican and Phillppines as well China made crap complete will fake info as to source.

[leftofcool]

8. As long as they are not selling it as NA made, it is legal

If they put a Native American tag on it, it better darn sure have a tribal ID and a number with it.

[Wellstone ruled]

13. There are so many Flea Markets out there.

Never really realize how much and how many counterfeits go through these things. The few we attended as a rule,did not have Native I.D.s. We do not waste our time anymore on these.

[leftofcool]

15. Good for you.

[Kali]

11. well, this is the first bust I have ever heard of

Asians and Middle Easterners took over the trade a couple decades ago. about time somebody took a few of them to task.

[FailureToCommunicate]

14. Just came back from visiting, and shopping, in Albuquerque's Old Town. Not the shops, directly from

the artists.

Gallery 8 and Gallery Azul were mentioned in the indictment.