Ashraf Omar Eldarir was sentenced to six months in prison for smuggling Egyptian antiquities into the United States through John F. Kennedy International Airport. The sentencing took place in federal court in Brooklyn before United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner. Eldarir had previously pleaded guilty in February 2025 to four counts of smuggling.
Authorities recovered more than 600 Egyptian artifacts during the investigation into Eldarir’s activities. According to court filings, he trafficked ancient Egyptian artifacts on at least four occasions between April 2019 and January 22, 2020. Each time, Eldarir used fake provenances to sell these items at U.S.-based auction houses. Provenance documents are intended to establish an artifact’s history and legitimacy.
On January 22, 2020, Eldarir arrived from Egypt at JFK Airport and declared that he was carrying goods valued at only $300. Customs officers found his three checked suitcases filled with 590 artifacts wrapped in bubble wrap and foam; sand and dirt spilled out of the packaging when opened, suggesting recent excavation. Among the seized items were gold amulets from a funerary set and wooden tomb model figures with linen garments dating back to around 1900 BCE. Law enforcement also found materials used for fabricating documentation for the stolen artifacts.
Further investigation led to the recovery of additional illegally imported artifacts, which have since been forfeited along with those seized at JFK Airport.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr., Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Director of Field Operations Francis J. Russo announced the sentence.
“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 Nocella. “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. We commend our HSI and CBP partners for their diligent and important work in this case and look forward to repatriating to Egypt the recovered antiquities.”
“Safeguarding cultural heritage is an often-overlooked yet important aspect of border security, as smugglers frequently exploit similar vulnerabilities to transport stolen artifacts and other illicit goods,” stated CBP Director of Field Operations Russo. “In this case, the profit-driven defendant lied during border inspection to conceal priceless antiquities, but the vigilance of CBP officers uncovered the truth. Every day, our officers work tirelessly to protect both our security and the cultural heritage of nations worldwide, and while doing so, uncover other sophisticated smuggling plots. Strong partnerships with agencies like HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are critical to this mission, and CBP remains committed to preserving history while enforcing the law.”
Assistant United States Attorneys William P. Campos and Nomi Berenson led the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Amara Padilla; Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura D. Mantell is handling forfeiture matters.
Eldarir is a resident of Brooklyn, New York.
