Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi, a 57-year-old man from Palmdale, was sentenced to three months in federal prison for illegally importing a 2,000-pound ancient mosaic depicting Hercules, dating back nearly two millennia. The mosaic, which was looted from war-torn Syria and smuggled through Turkey, was falsely declared as ceramic tiles valued under $600 to evade customs duties. Alcharihi purchased the mosaic in 2015 for approximately $12,000 but misled customs officials, knowing its true worth was estimated at $450,000 after a $40,000 restoration. A jury found him guilty of falsely classifying goods following a five-day trial in June 2023. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the protection of cultural heritage, especially following UN resolutions condemning the destruction of such artifacts in conflict zones. The government has also initiated a forfeiture order for the mosaic.