Texan sentenced for selling, mailing fake Native American goods made in PH

Native American craft (image for representation purposes only). VOA

A Kingwood, Texas man was sentenced in federal court in San Antonio to five years of probation for mail fraud and misrepresentation of Indian goods under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

Kevin Charles Kowalis, 60, fraudulently marketed and sold jewelry online that he described as “Native American Indian Handmade,” “genuine Indian handcrafted,” “Zuni,” and “Navajo,” which were made in the Philippines.

In addition to the five-year probation sentence, Kowalis was ordered to forfeit his inventory and pay restitution to a victimized artist.

Kowalis  had received the counterfeit jewelry from a manufacturer in the Philippines unaffiliated with any federally recognized Native American tribe.  He fulfilled an order of the jewelry to a San Antonio-based customer, mailing several packages through the U.S. Postal Service.

“Offenders like this defendant victimize both our cherished Native American community and consumers who believe they’re collecting authentic pieces of Native American culture,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.

“This sentencing is important in the fight to end this type of fraud. Our dedicated team of special agents works on behalf of the Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board to protect American Indian and Alaska Native artists and the consumers who purchase authentic Native American art and craftwork,” said Assistant Director Edward J. Grace of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement. “We thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Justice for their assistance with this investigation.”