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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Three more defendants in a federal crackdown on illegal trafficking of American Indian artifacts have scheduled change-of-plea hearings.
Related:
Defendants in stolen artifacts case voluntarily surrender items
Federal officials returned Wednesday to southeastern Utah to continue their investigation into stolen Native American artifacts.Aubry Patterson, Nick Laws and Dale Lyman of Blanding are scheduled to appear April 23 in front of a federal magistrate in Moab. All three initially pleaded not guilty to felony charges related to artifact trafficking.
They were among 26 people charged after a two-year sting operation targeting those who illegally dig, sell and collect artifacts taken from public and tribal lands in the Four Corners area.
Late last month, two other defendants -- Brent Bullock and Tammy Shumway -- pleaded guilty to two felony counts each. They're scheduled to be sentenced in July.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
