California Man Charged with Unlawfully Importing Mosaic

A California man was charged today with one count of unlawfully affecting the entry of goods into the United States upon false classification as to quality and value.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna for the Central District of California, Special Agent in Charge David Prince of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles and Special Agent in Charge Voviette D. Morgan of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, Criminal Division made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi, 53, of Palmdale, California, claimed he was importing a shipment of items valued at $2,199, when in fact he was importing a mosaic worth more than that amount, and he misrepresented the quality of the mosaic, including what the mosaic depicted.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Art and Antiquity Investigations group and HSI’s Los Angeles Public Safety Group.  The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ann Marie Ursini of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark A. Williams and Matthew W. O’Brien of the Central District of California.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.