Mass. scrimshaw artist convicted of smuggling ivory, sperm whale teeth into US

Mass. man guilty of smuggling ivory, whale teeth

BOSTON — A Massachusetts scrimshaw artist has been convicted of smuggling sperm whale teeth and elephant ivory into the United States.

Federal prosecutors say 54-year-old Charles Manghis of Nantucket was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston on Thursday after a four-day bench trial of one count of conspiracy to smuggle wildlife, six counts of smuggling wildlife and two counts of lying to investigators.

He faces a maximum of five years in federal prison on each count at sentencing on May 6.

Authorities say Manghis, who etched pictures onto ivory and whale teeth for sale, conspired with a Ukrainian man to import the wildlife parts, in violation of international treaties and a federal endangered species protection laws.

Manghis’ lawyer did not immediately return a message left before business hours Friday.