Home   News   Schools   Sports   Biz   Opinion   Health   Scitech  Arts   Dining   Movies   Outdoors   Weather   Comics   Archives  NM Jobs Cars Real Estate

          Front Page  news  state

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

AG Accuses Santa Fe Stores of Lying About Jewelry


Associated Press
       SANTA FE — The state Attorney General's office has filed lawsuits in district court accusing two Santa Fe businesses of fraud for allegedly misrepresenting jewelry they said was designed by a Navajo artist.
    Attorney General Gary King says selling jewelry that is fraudulently represented as American Indian art is a huge problem in New Mexico.
    King says at least half of what is being sold as authentic Indian handmade art is made by non-Indians.
    The lawsuits accuse Golden Bear Trading Inc. and Santa Fe Indian Jewelry of selling nine pieces of jewelry since September 2007 that they falsely claimed were made by renowned Navajo artist Calvin Begay.
    The office says the sales violated the state Indian Arts and Crafts Sales Act and the Unfair Practices Act.
    Two men answering the phones at the businesses declined to comment Tuesday.

Copyright ©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.