Man pleads guilty in tribal art scam, others to go to trial

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Two Juneau shop owners accused of selling fake Alaska Native artwork appeared in court this week, with one accepting a plea agreement and another setting a date for trial.

The Juneau Empire reports that Vinod “Vinny” Sippy, who owned Diamond Island, Icy Strait, and Gemstone Heaven pleaded guilty to selling bone carvings to an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent in August and falsely presenting them as “Inuit Indian” work.

As part of the plea agreement, Sippy was sentenced to probation and agreed to pay a $3,500 fine and make a $3,500 donation to the Indian Arts and Crafts board.

Norma Carandang of Northstar Gift Shop is scheduled to go to trial June 27.

Three other shop owners in Ketchikan and Skagway have been charged with violating the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

–––

Information from: Juneau (Alaska) Empire, http://www.juneauempire.com