NY judge boosts bond for Fla. man in dino dispute UPDATE: Fla. man pleads guilty

[jeff of pa]

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge released a Florida man charged with smuggling dinosaur fossils into the U.S. from home detention Monday even after a prosecutor argued for tougher bail conditions, saying the suspect could flee because he has access to dinosaur parts that could be sold for more than a half million dollars.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman at times seemed unimpressed as the prosecutor urged bail be raised from $100,000 to $600,000 for 38-year-old Eric Prokopi, saying he might go abroad with the proceeds of hundreds of thousands of dollars he could earn selling stolen dinosaur relics.

Prokopi, a fossils dealer who has been free on bail since his Wednesday arrest, is the owner of a 70 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton, known as Ty, that was seized by the government in June in a civil forfeiture action. The government accused Prokopi of smuggling the bones into the country illegally from Mongolia before assembling them into a skeleton that was sold by Dallas-based auction house Heritage Auctions for $1.05 million.

Republican Herald | News | republicanherald.com

 

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[Connecticut Sam]

Was he found guilty or not?

 

[jeff of pa]

hmm may be too soon, I'll have to google see if he came to trial yet or if charges disappeared

 

[jeff of pa]

Fla. man pleads guilty in NY in $1M dino dispute
NEW YORK (AP) — A Florida man has pleaded guilty in New York to smuggling dinosaur fossils into the United States, admitting that he lied to U.S. customs authorities.
Eric Prokopi (proh-CAHP'-ee) entered his plea Thursday in federal court in Manhattan. The plea deal requires the 38-year-old fossils dealer to give up claims to a 70 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton the government seized earlier this year.
He also must give up claims to two other Tyrannosaurus bataar skeletons, three more dinosaur skeletons and various unassembled dinosaur pieces.
In return for his cooperation, prosecutors say they will recommend leniency. The charges carry a potential penalty of up to 17 years in prison.

Prokopi pleaded guilty to conspiracy, the fraudulent transfer of dinosaur bones and making false statements to customs authorities.
He lives in Gainesville,

http://hosted2.ap.org/PAPOE/aa9398e...r Dispute/id-cb812cdc2004422a88e76ebf4b1d122d

 

[CareenJ]

There are people who are very fond of dinosaur fossil. Some would do anything just to get dinosaur fossil for lots of money. Admit it – it would be awesome to have a dinosaur skeleton. Most are in museums or at universities, but willing buyers are out there, hence fossil smuggling. According to National Geographic, a number of people tread into the wilderness in countries all over the world, finding dinosaur and other fossils to sell to collectors as a profession. Collectors have included Bill Gates and Charlie Sheen. Many farmers keep an eye out for anything good on their property worldwide, in case they find something to sell. I read this here...