Florida man forfeits ancient Torah scrolls, cuneiform tablets in US antiquities smuggling probe
Weinberg forfeited $75,000 in US currency as proceeds of violations of federal anti-smuggling statutes, and was barred for two years from selling or purchasing any foreign antiquities.
Matthew Weinberg, a Florida man, has forfeited ancient Torah scrolls and Mesopotamian tablets in a US antiquities smuggling probe, according to the US Department of Justice. The scrolls, seized in March, were found alongside other items during a search of Weinberg's home in Miramar Beach. Investigations into Weinberg began in July 2025 after a suspicious shipment was intercepted at Pensacola International Airport, which was later found to contain cuneiform tablets from Iraq, valued at over $15,000.
The man was also found to have illegally obtained shipments of antiquities from Iran, Egypt, and Cyprus, all of which were listed as significantly undervalued on their manifests. Weinberg forfeited the artifacts and $75,000 in US currency, and was barred from selling or purchasing foreign antiquities for two years.
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