By Rylee Kirk, Syracuse.com
A man was arrested for selling ivory figurines to undercover state Department of Environmental Conservation agents in a restaurant parking lot in Syracuse, agents said.
Henry Chmielewski, 62, of Syracuse, met up with a person he thought was a customer on May 11 in the Twin Trees parking lot at 1100 Avery Ave., according to the DEC.
The DEC received a tip that Chmielewski had been advertising the figurines on social media, agents said. The Japanese figurines, called “netsuke,” are from the 17th century and usually are made of elephant ivory, agents said.
When Chmielewski met up with the agents in the parking lot they arrested him and charged him with the illegal sale of ivory, agents said.
He was supposed to appear in Syracuse City Court on July 5 but did not, agents said. A warrant has been issued for his arrest, they said.
The State of New York has laws in place against ivory sales to try and curb the ivory industry, which targets rhinos and elephants, they said.
