Mass. artist faces black market charges

Massachusetts artist Charles Manghis, known for his carved whale teeth, has been illegally trading whale teeth on the black market, police alleged.

The Boston Globe said Sunday that police seized 375 whale teeth from Manghis' Cape Cod home and from other buyers of the artist's goods. Manghis was arrested April 24, one day after he was indicted by a grand jury on conspiracy and smuggling charges.

The arrest and indictment came after several years of investigative work by federal authorities, who had received a tip that the artist had illegally bought ivory on the black market.

The indictment alleged that Manghis -- who was once commissioned to create carved whale teeth for President George W. Bush and his father -- purchased whale teeth from a Ukrainian seller.

The U.S. Endangered Species Act and international law prohibit such sales. The Globe said Manghis faces a maximum prison sentence of 25 years if convicted.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

Publication date: 18 May 2008

Source: UPI-1-20080518-13093700-bc-us-whaleart.xml

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Mass. artist faces black market charges

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