Antiquities Dealer Faces 20 Years for Smuggling Egyptian Sarcophagus, Etc.
An antiquities dealer pleaded guilty to smuggling Egyptian cultural property into the U.S. and making a false statement to law enforcement authorities, said Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
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According to ICE, between October 2008 and November 2009, Mousa Khouli, aka Morris Khouli, 38, an antiquities dealer, arranged for the purchase and smuggling of a series of Egyptian antiquities, including an Egyptian sarcophagus, a three-part nesting coffin set, a set of Egyptian funerary boats and Egyptian limestone figures. These antiquities were exported from Dubai and smuggled into the U.S. by making false declarations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection concerning the country of origin and value of the antiquities; and providing misleading descriptions of the contents on shipping labels and customs paperwork, such as "antiques" "wood panels" and "wooden painted box." Khouli covered up the smuggling by making false statements to law enforcement authorities.
Most of Antiquities Recovered; Others Forfeited in Court
Most of the smuggled antiquities were recovered by law enforcement at the time the indictment was unsealed July 14, 2011. The innermost coffin of the nesting set was seized during a search of Khouli's residence in September 2009. The middle coffin and most of the outer coffin lid were seized in November 2009, after they arrived via sea cargo at the Port of Newark, N.J. The sarcophagus, funerary boats and limestone figures were seized during a search of co-defendant Joseph A. Lewis II's residence in July 2011.
The missing pieces of the coffin lid were forfeited to the government in court on April 18. They consist of four wooden bird-like figures that attach to the four corners of the coffin lid, and four wooden panels that comprise the rectangular bottom of the coffin lid. Hieroglyphics on the coffin indicate that the name of the deceased was "Shesepamuntayesher" and that she bore the title "Lady of the House."
Possible Sentence of 20 Years in Federal Prison
Khouli faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The defendant also entered into a stipulation of settlement resolving a civil complaint seeking forfeiture of the Egyptian antiquities, Iraqi artifacts, cash and other pieces of cultural property seized in connection with the government's investigation.