Prokopi pleads guilty to lying to US Custom agents and gives up 3 T bataar skeletons plus 3 other skeletons from Mongolia

[Dan Chure <danchure@easilink.com>]

This just in.

Dan

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/27/man-pleads-guilty-to-smuggling-dinosaur-skeletons-into-u-s/

Man Pleads Guilty To Smuggling Dinosaur Skeletons Into U.S.  December 27,
2012 3:46 PM


*NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)* – A Florida man has pleaded guilty in Manhattan
federal court to smuggling dinosaur fossils into the U.S.

Eric 
Prokopi<http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/10/17/prosecutor-florida-man-charged-in-ny-for-illegally-importing-dinosaurs/>,
38, of Gainesville admitted he lied to U.S. Customs agents when he brought a 70 
million-year-old Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton into the country from
Mongolia and China.

Between 2010 and 2012, Prokopi acquired the fossils from their countries of 
origin and illegally transported them to the U.S. by misrepresenting the
contents of the shipments on customs forms, prosecutors had argued.

*Under the plea deal, Prokopi will give up claims to a total of three 
Tyrannosaurus bataar skeletons, three other skeletons and other unassembled
dinosaur pieces.*

Prokopi pleaded guilty to illegally importing fossils that included a nearly 
complete Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton and a Saurolophus angustirostris 
skeleton from Mongolia as well as a Microraptor

skeleton from China.

Prosecutors will recommend leniency in sentencing in exchange for the guilty 
plea from the fossil dealer.

Prokopi pleaded guilty to conspiracy, the fraudulent transfer of dinosaur bones 
and making false statements to customs authorities, which carry a potential 
sentence of up to 17 years in prison.