MADISON, Wis. (WRN) — A Florida man is fined $25,000 for misrepresenting Native American-made goods at Wisconsin art shows.
Federal prosecutors say 47‑year‑old Jose Farinango Muenala falsely claimed his products were handmade by Pueblo Indians. Investigators say he sold the imported jewelry under the name Southwest Expressions at art shows across the country, including in Wisconsin, from 2012 through 2023, while pretending to be Native American himself.
Authorities estimate the company made more than forty thousand sales, bringing in over $2.6 million.