Former Art Broker Fined in Skins Case
A former African art dealer convicted of marketing the skins of animals threatened with extinction has been fined $4,000 and placed on three years’ probation.
Frederick Reitano, who formerly operated the Ashanti African Art shop on Prospect Avenue in La Jolla, was ordered to have no further violations of the California fish and game laws.
San Diego Municipal Judge Robert Stahl Jr. imposed no jail time in the Monday hearing. The business is no longer in operation.
Reitano was convicted last week by Stahl in a non-jury trial of possessing zebra, python, leopard and cheetah skins for sale, which are misdemeanor offenses. He was acquitted of a conspiracy charge.
The skins were ordered forfeited to the state, and Deputy City Attorney Penny Castleman said in court that they would be donated to the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.
The skins were seized June 19 by agents of the California Fish and Game Department.
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