A five-year investigation into artifacts dealer Christopher Kortlander’s museum resulted in a raid and allegations that he was dealing in fraudulent artifacts and feathers in violation of federal law. Authorities seized a trove of war bonnets, medicine bags and other items. Subsequently, no charges were ever filed, and most of the items seized during the raids have been returned.
Most but not all, Art Daily reported that “sealed court filings obtained by The Associated Press show the government still holds 22 items, partly on the word of a convicted felon who claimed Kortlander acquired them illegally.” Many of the still seized objects contain feathers of protected birds, which renders them “contraband” under the Bald Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
