Fraudster jailed for selling $1 million worth of fake local art

Alaskan arts and crafts, like this totem pole, are a staple of the state's economy. Credit: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A US businessman who sold $1 million (£794,470) worth of art from his native Alaska that he actually commissioned from the Philippines has been jailed for two years.

Cristobal «Chris» Magno Rodrigo, 59, of Washington State, received the longest sentence ever handed down by the courts for violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1935, which was intended to combat fraud and misrepresentation.

According to the US Attorney's office in Alaska, Magno operated two companies in Alaska from April 2016 to December 2021.

Alaska Stone Arts sold Rail Creek carvings and wooden totem poles.

Sold as a local. They were actually made in the Philippines by a company founded by Magno's wife.

Magno, who worked for two decades in shops selling local art before the conspiracy, taught Filipino workers how to recreate these objects.

To create the illusion of authenticity, Magno hired Alaska Natives to work in their stores. in Ketchikan who sold these items as their own work.

He was also ordered to donate $60,000 to the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes in Alaska and write a letter of apology to be published in the Ketchikan Daily.

Prosecutors said Magno made $1 million from the fraud .

«Cultural insult»

“The actions taken by the defendant to purposefully deceive customers and counterfeit art are a cultural affront to local Alaskan artisans who take pride in producing these works of art. historical works of art and negatively affects those who make a living doing this craft,” said Lane Tucker, U.S. Attorney for Alaska.

“The monumental sentencing of Mr. Rodrigo is a testament to the federal government’s commitment to prosecute violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, and U.S. Attorney’s will continue to work with law enforcement partners to protect the cultural heritage of Alaska Natives and unsuspecting clients, and to bring Responsibility for those responsible

Aboriginal art is seen as a key part of Alaska's $4.5 billion tourism industry, and there is growing concern about the activities of fraudulent dealers.

The impact of the illegal trade is huge,» says Jacob Adams, an attorney who has represented Alaska Native artists in civil cases.

«Letting non-original products like this be sold. When they hit the market and essentially take over a lot of territory, it makes the environment much more difficult for the indigenous artisans to live off their culture, and it causes a lot of side effects,” he told Anchorage Daily News.

“If people can’t use their culture, live off their culture…then it deprives future generations of the incentive to learn these crafts.”