Hobby Lobby Settles Iraqi Artifact Smuggling Suit for $3M, Prosecutors Say

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — Hobby Lobby, an Oklahoma-based craft store chain, must hand over thousands of Iraqi artifacts Brooklyn federal prosecutors said they smuggled into the U.S. illegally.

The store will pay $3 million and forfeit the clay bullae, cuneiform tablets and cylinder seals to settle the civil suit brought against it by the federal government, court records show.

The national chain began importing Iraqi artifacts — worth about $1.6 million in total — from Israel and the United Arab Emirates in 2009, using packaging that falsely marked them as samples, prosecutors said.

“We should have exercised more oversight and carefully questioned how the acquisitions were handled,” said Hobby Lobby President Steve Green in an official statement. “We have accepted responsibility and learned a great deal.”

Hobby Lobby garnered national attention in 2014 when the Supreme Court ruled in its favor and decided corporations with religious objections did not have to provide birth control to employees under the Affordable Care Act.

Green said in his statement that he remained dedicated to collecting religious artifacts for future study.

"Our passion for the Bible continues," said Green. "We will do all that we can to support the efforts to conserve items that will help illuminate and enhance our understanding of this Great Book.”

Watch: Hobby Lobby To Pay $3M Fine

Photo courtesy of the United States Attorney's office