BROOKLYN, NY – Ashraf Omar Eldarir, 52, of Brooklyn, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today to six months for trafficking in stolen Egyptian artifacts. The sentence, handed down by United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner, closes a case that exposed a sophisticated smuggling network responsible for the illegal import of over 600 historical treasures.
Eldarir pleaded guilty in February 2025 to four counts of smuggling, admitting to a scheme that spanned from April 2019 to January 22, 2020. He used falsified documentation – known as ‘provenances’ – to sell the pilfered artifacts at auction houses across the United States, attempting to legitimize goods ripped from their rightful place in history. The prosecution, led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William P. Campos and Nomi Berenson, demonstrated a clear pattern of deceit and profit-driven exploitation.
The bust originated at John F. Kennedy International Airport on January 22, 2020. Eldarir, arriving from Egypt, initially declared his baggage contained only $300 worth of goods. A routine inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers quickly revealed a far more valuable and illicit cargo. Three checked suitcases were found packed with 590 meticulously wrapped artifacts. The wrapping concealed not just the items themselves, but also loose sand and dirt – telltale signs of recent, unauthorized excavation.
Among the recovered items were exquisitely detailed gold amulets from a funerary set and delicate wooden tomb model figures draped in ancient linen, dating back to approximately 1900 BCE. Law enforcement also discovered a kit containing materials used to fabricate the very documentation Eldarir used to mask the origins of the stolen goods. The initial seizure at JFK led to a wider investigation, ultimately recovering an additional trove of illegally imported artifacts, all of which have been forfeited.
“The defendant looted Egypt’s cultural treasures and lied to U.S. Customs about them as part of a web of deception he spun to illegally fill his pockets with cash,” stated United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. “Those who steal cultural treasures of other countries and smuggle them into the United States should know that they will be held accountable for their crimes.” Francis J. Russo, Director of Field Operations for CBP, emphasized the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage, stating, “Every day, our officers work tirelessly to protect both our security and the cultural heritage of nations worldwide.”
The recovered artifacts are slated for repatriation to Egypt. The case, docket number 20-CR-243 in the Eastern District of New York, highlights the ongoing battle against cultural property crime and the critical role of interagency cooperation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and CBP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Mantell of the Asset Recovery Section is handling the forfeiture of the stolen antiquities.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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