via The Washington Post, 22 June 2023: U.S. authorities have reached a $12 million forfeiture agreement with Julia Copleston, the daughter of alleged antiquities smuggler Douglas Latchford, who was indicted in 2019 and accused of being involved in the looting of ancient Cambodian temples, requiring Copleston to surrender the money and a stolen bronze statue; the settlement represents a significant step in the fight against the illicit trade in cultural patrimony.
“For years, Douglas Latchford made millions from selling looted antiquities in the U.S. art market, stashing his ill-gotten gains offshore,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in announcing the forfeiture agreement. “This historic forfeiture action and settlement shows that we will be relentless in following the money wherever it leads to fight the illicit trade in cultural patrimony.”
Some art historians and researchers who have tracked the trade in stolen Asian antiquities praised the settlement.
Source: Antiquities smuggler’s family agrees to forfeit $12 million and a statue – The Washington Post
See also:
- U.S. Attorney Announces $12 Million Settlement Of Civil Forfeiture Action Against Estate Of Antiquities Trafficker Douglas Latchford | US Department of Justice, 22 June 2023
- Accused Art Trafficker’s Estate Forfeits $12 Million to End Case | New York Times, 22 June 2023
- Family of indicted art dealer Douglas Latchford gives up $12 million in historic antiquities settlement | Denver Post, 23 June 2023
- $12M settlement announced of civil forfeiture action against antiquities trafficker Douglas Latchford’s estate | US Customs and Immigration, 23 June 2023
- Daughter of accused Asian antiquities trafficker forfeits $12 million as NYC case ends | Nextshark, 23 June 2023
- Family of accused antiquities trafficker agrees to pay $12 million in record settlement | ICIJ, 23 June 2023
- Estate of Suspected Antiquities Trafficker Forfeits $12 M. to Settle Civic Suit | ARTNews, 23 June 2023
- Disgraced Dealer’s Daughter to Forfeit $12M and Allegedly Smuggled Statue | Hyperallergic, 23 June 2023
- Douglas Latchford’s Estate Will Pay $12 Million to Settle a Civil Case on the Disgraced Dealer’s Theft of Cambodian Antiquities | ArtNet News, 23 June 2023
- Douglas Latchford estate forfeits $12m to settle looted antiquities case | Apollo, 23 June 2023
- US Seizes $12 Million From Estate of Accused Statue Trafficker | Bloomberg, 23 June 2023
- Douglas Latchford’s estate hands over $12m to settle US trafficking case | The ArtNewspaper, 24 June 2023
- Douglas Latchford Daughter to Pay $12 M. Regarding Theft | The Collector, 25 June 2023
- Estate of accused dealer of stolen antiquities settles case for $12 million | Art Review, 26 June 2023
- Art dealer’s estate hands over $12 million for stolen artifacts | AS AM News, 27 June 2023
