Florida man sentenced for misrepresenting Indian-produced jewelry
A Florida man was sentenced to probation and fined after pleading guilty to misrepresenting Indian-produced goods, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Jose Farinango Muenala, 47, of Casselberry, Florida, pleaded guilty Jan. 28, 2026, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to three years of probation and a $25,000 fine, according to an Interior Department press release. Officials said Farinango Muenala falsely told customers that jewelry sold through his business, Southwest Expressions, was handmade by Pueblo Indians. An investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined the jewelry was mass produced and imported from the Philippines.
Farinango Muenala reportedly attended dozens of art shows between 2012 and 2023, including the 2023 Loon Day Festival in Mercer, Wisconsin. During that time, his business made 40,905 individual sales and grossed more than $2.6 million. The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, according to the Interior Department.
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