Man who illegally imported ancient Roman art through LB Port gets 3 months in federal prison, DOJ says
Federal prosecutors say Palmdale resident Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi, 57, lied to customs and said he was importing ceramic tiles from Turkey.
A Palmdale man who illegally imported an ancient Roman mosaic from Syria that depicted a story of Hercules through the Port of Long Beach has been sentenced to three months in federal prison, authorities announced Friday.
Federal prosecutors say Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi, 57, bought the mosaic for $12,000 in 2015.
When Alcharihi tried to bring the mosaic back to the United States, he lied to his customs broker and said he was importing ceramic tiles from Turkey valued at less than $600, authorities said. In fact, the 2,000-year-old mosaic, which is 15 feet by 8 feet and weights about a ton, was worth $450,000, according to federal officials.
According to the DOJ, the mosaic "depicts a story from ancient Greek and Roman mythology depicting Hercules rescuing Prometheus, who had been chained to a rock by his fellow gods for stealing fire for humanity."
After passing through customs, the mosaic arrived at the Port of Long Beach from Turkey, and then to Alcharihi's home, authorities said. He then paid $40,000 to have it restored, they added.
In addition, Alcharihi's false classification of the mosaic took place three months after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution "condemning the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria," according to the Department of Justice.
Federal authorities in 2016 seized the 200 pound mosaic from Alcharihi’s garage, according to the DOJ.
After a five-day trial in June 2023, jurors found Alcharihi guilty of one count of entry of falsely classified goods, according to the DOJ.
The mosaic is currently being stored at a secure facility in Los Angeles, they added.
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