Federal authorities have charged four Southeast Alaska business owners and an employee for violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler announced the charges in a press release Thursday, naming the following businesses and operators:
- Juneau resident and business operator Norma M. Carandang, 60, doing business as Northstar Gift Shop;
- Vinod “Vinny” L. Sippy, 38, doing business as Diamond Island, Icy Strait, and Gemstone Heaven;
- Puerto Rican resident and Ketchikan business owner Gabriel T. Karim, 33, doing business as Alaskan Heritage;
- Skagway resident and business owner Rosemary V. Libert, 56, doing business as Lynch and Kennedy Dry Goods, Inc.;
- and Libert’s seasonal employee, a resident of Huntington Beach, California, Judy M. Gengler, 65.
They’re accused of misrepresenting bone art carvings as made by Alaska Natives or Indians, when in fact they were made by local non-Native carvers.
The charges were filed as a result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on complaints by summer tourists who bought bogus bone carvings. The service began its investigation in May 2014.
The maximum penalty for violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act as charged is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Arraignment dates have not been set.
