CrimeJan 15, 2026
D.C. Rapper ‘Taliban Glizzy’ Sentenced to 18+ Years for Jewelry Store RobberiesCrimeFeb 06, 2026
Florida Man Sentenced After Selling Fake Native American Jewelry for a Decade
Prosecutors say the man attended arts and craft fairs claiming he was a third-generation jeweler who was a member of the Pueblo tribe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin announced last week that a 47-year-old Florida man who pleaded guilty on Jan. 28 to misrepresenting Indian-produced goods has been sentenced.
Madison, Wis.—A Florida man who claimed to be a member of the Pueblo tribe from New Mexico and passed off jewelry made overseas as authentic, handmade Native American works was fined and sentenced to probation in federal court last week.
On Jan. 30, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley, a federal judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, gave 47-year-old Jose Farinango Muenala of Casselberry, Florida, three years of probation and a $25,000 fine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced in a news release.
Farinango Muenala pleaded guilty in late January to misrepresenting Indian-produced goods after initially facing other charges including wire fraud and mail fraud, court documents show.
According to the release, in January 2023, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board received a complaint about a man who had a business called Southwest Expressions and was attending art shows claiming the jewelry he was selling was handmade by members of the Pueblo tribe.
The board—part of the U.S. Department of the Interior—administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), a federal law enacted in 1990 that makes it illegal to offer, display for sale, or sell any good in a manner that falsely suggests it was Native American produced, a Native American product, or a product of a particular Native American tribe resident in the United States.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) began investigating the complaint and identified the man in question as Farinango Muenala.
Through its investigation, FWS determined that Farinango Muenala had been attending art shows as a vendor since 2012, including the 2023 Loon Day festival in Mercer, Wisconsin, which falls under jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Other shows Farinango Muenala attended include the 2023 St. Augustine Festival in St. Augustine, Florida; the 2023 Beaux Arts Festival in Coral Gables, Florida; and the 2024 Ann Arbor Arts Fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan, according to the superseding indictment filed against him in August 2025.
Related stories will be right here …
On Jan. 30, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley, a federal judge for the Western District of Wisconsin, gave 47-year-old Jose Farinango Muenala of Casselberry, Florida, three years of probation and a $25,000 fine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced in a news release.
Farinango Muenala pleaded guilty in late January to misrepresenting Indian-produced goods after initially facing other charges including wire fraud and mail fraud, court documents show.
According to the release, in January 2023, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board received a complaint about a man who had a business called Southwest Expressions and was attending art shows claiming the jewelry he was selling was handmade by members of the Pueblo tribe.
The board—part of the U.S. Department of the Interior—administers and enforces the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA), a federal law enacted in 1990 that makes it illegal to offer, display for sale, or sell any good in a manner that falsely suggests it was Native American produced, a Native American product, or a product of a particular Native American tribe resident in the United States.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) began investigating the complaint and identified the man in question as Farinango Muenala.
Through its investigation, FWS determined that Farinango Muenala had been attending art shows as a vendor since 2012, including the 2023 Loon Day festival in Mercer, Wisconsin, which falls under jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Other shows Farinango Muenala attended include the 2023 St. Augustine Festival in St. Augustine, Florida; the 2023 Beaux Arts Festival in Coral Gables, Florida; and the 2024 Ann Arbor Arts Fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan, according to the superseding indictment filed against him in August 2025.
Prosecutors said at these shows, Farinango Muenala told customers he was a Native American from New Mexico—which he is not—and misrepresented the jewelry he sold as having been handmade by himself or other members of the Pueblo tribe.
Court documents state, “The defendant claimed to customers he was a Pueblo tribal member from Taos and a third-generation jewelry maker.
“He spun a tale that he and his brother made almost all the jewelry in their studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and what they didn’t make, their family did. Considering these lies, the hefty price tag on the jewelry—hundreds of dollars, for some pieces—made sense.”
In reality, the jewelry was mass produced and imported from the Philippines.
According to the release, Farinango Muenala’s business, Southwest Expressions, made 40,905 individual sales and grossed about $2.7 million between 2012 and 2023.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Farinango Muenala profited by intentionally misrepresenting the jewelry that he sold. The judge also acknowledged the significance of IACA, which was created to protect Native Americans.
Commenting on the sentencing, Indian Arts and Crafts Board Director Meridith Stanton said, “The IACA is intended to rid the Indian arts and crafts marketplace of counterfeits to protect the economic livelihoods and cultural heritage of Indian artists, craftspeople, and their tribes, as well as the buying public.
“Authentic Indian art and craftwork is an important tool for passing down cultural traditions, traditional knowledge, and artistic skills from one generation to the next … These sales of fake Indian art tear at the very fabric of Indian culture and undercut the marketability of the creative work of federally recognized tribes.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Crime
The Latest
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
Events & AwardsJul 17, 2026
Gem Awards Opens 2027 Nomination PeriodSubmissions for the milestone 25th annual Gem Awards will be accepted across three categories from now through July 31.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program Certifies First Advanced Apprentice GraduateThe graduate, Grace Barden, credited the program with helping her secure a job as a bench jeweler.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
SourcingJul 10, 2026
CFO of De Beers’ Consumer-Facing Division Leaves Company Shaun Wills joined the company in 2024 and was chief financial officer of the De Beers Brands and Consumer Markets division.
