MADISON, WI – Federal agents say a Florida artist who sells Native American-made art is lying to potential buyers across the Midwest, alleging his art is fraudulent and he has no connection to any tribe.
A federal grand jury indicted Jose Farinango Muenala June 26, in U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin with scheming to defraud, wire fraud and misrepresentation in sale of products, according to the federal indictment unsealed July 18.
Though it is not listed in the indictment, most recently Muenala was a vender in the 2024 Ann Arbor Art Fair, known as the largest juried art fair nationwide, July 18-20. Organizers said they were unaware of the federal allegations.
“Jose Farinango participated in the Marketplace section of…
