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Case Summary
United States v. One Tyrannosaurus Bataar Skeleton
United States v. One Tyrannosaurus Bataar Skeleton, No. 12-cv-4760 (PKC), slip op. (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 14, 2012); related criminal case United States v. Prokopi, No. 12-cr-0981 (S.D.N.Y. filed Oct. 5. 2012).
Précis
This federal civil and criminal case against American paleontologist Eric Prokopi for illegally importing and possessing Mongolian dinosaur fossils highlights the perils of dealing in cultural heritage objects – including non-art objects – from countries, such as Mongolia, whose laws deem them to be state property. In this case, U.S. prosecutors seized a Mongolian Tyrannosaurus Bataar that Prokopi had imported and tried to sell at auction, and sought criminal penalties against him. The case was . . . .
Associated Legal Decision(s)
Associated Statutes and/or Legislation
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Crimes and Criminal Procedure, 18 U.S.C. § 542, Entry of goods by means of false statements
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Crimes and Criminal Procedure, 18 U.S.C. § 2314, (National Stolen Property Act), Transportation of Stolen Goods, Securities, Moneys, Fraudulent State Tax Stamps, or Articles Used in Counterfeiting
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Crimes and Criminal Procedure, 18 U.S.C. § 2315, (National Stolen Property Act), Sale or Receipt of Stolen Goods, Securities, Moneys, or Fraudulent State Tax Stamps
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Customs Duties, 19 U.S.C. § 1595a, Forfeitures and other penalties
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Mongolian Protection of Cultural Heritage Law (2001, as amended 2005) (“2001 PCHL”) [official translation]
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