US Seizes Ancient Art Of Hercules From LA County Man

LOS ANGELES, CA – A Los Angeles County man is accused of smuggling into the U.S. a 2,000-pound ancient mosaic depicting Hercules, believed to have been made in the 3rd or 4th Century, and likely looted from war-torn Syria. The U.S. Attorney's Office this week filed a asset forfeiture complaint after the artifact was seized at a Palmdale residence.

The complaint alleges that Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi violated federal law by concealing the mosaic at his residence after he allegedly smuggled the piece in the U.S. with false and fraudulent documents with the intent to avoid import duties, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The complaint alleges that the mosaic was imported into the U.S. with paperwork indicating that it was part of a shipment of vases and mosaics worth only about $2,200, but Alcharihi later admitted paying $12,000 for the items, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The mosaic, which is approximately 18 feet long and weighs approximately one ton, was seized by FBI and HSI special agents in March 2016 as part of an investigation into the “smuggling [of] looted items believed to be from a foreign conflict area into the United States.”

The civil forfeiture case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Katharine Schonbachler of the Asset Forfeiture Section.

--Photo via U.S. Attorney's Office