Juneau, Alaska – In a brazen attempt to deceive summer tourists, Vinod ‘Vinny’ L. Sippy, 38, the owner of three Southeast Alaska businesses, Diamond Island, Icy Strait, and Gemstone Heaven, has been charged with violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA).
According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation, Sippy and his co-defendants, including Norma M. Carandang, 60, owner of Northstar Gift Shop; Gabriel T. Karim, 33, owner of Alaskan Heritage in Ketchikan; Rosemary V. Libert, 56, owner of Lynch and Kennedy Dry Goods, Inc. in Skagway; and Judy M. Gengler, 65, a seasonal employee of Libert’s business, were selling bone art carvings as authentic Native-made when, in fact, they were crafted by non-native carvers.
The charges were filed as a result of complaints from tourists who were misled into purchasing the carvings, which are valued at thousands of dollars. An investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with assistance from the Indian Arts and Crafts Board and the Alaska Attorney General’s Office, uncovered the scheme, and charges were filed on an unspecified date in 2023.
The maximum penalty for violating the IACA is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Arraignment dates have not been set.
Ms. Loeffler commends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their investigation and the assistance provided by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board and the Alaska Attorney General’s Office.
A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial, where the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defendant: Vinod L. Sippy, Vinny L. Sippy, dba Diamond Island, Icy Strait, and Gemstone Heaven
Criminal charges: Violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA)
City and state: Juneau, Alaska
Date: Unknown, 2023
Sentence or outcome: Unknown
Dollar amounts: $0 – $100,000
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Key Facts
- State: Alaska
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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