Florida man forfeits ancient Torah scrolls, cuneiform tablets in US antiquities smuggling probe

A Florida man has forfeited two ancient Torah scrolls, cuneiform tablets, and other antiquities as part of a US federal smuggling investigation. Matthew Weinberg of Miramar Beach forfeited $75,000 and was barred from the antiquities market for two years. The artifacts will be repatriated to their countries of origin.

Matthew Weinberg of Miramar Beach, Florida, has forfeited two ancient Torah scrolls, cuneiform tablets, and other antiquities as part of a federal smuggling investigation, the US Department of Justice announced Monday. The artifacts were seized from his home in March, alongside Chinese scroll artwork and ancient Egyptian artifacts. The investigation began in July 2025 after US Customs and Border Protection detained a shipment from the United Arab Emirates destined for Weinberg. The shipment listed two terracotta objects valued at under $200, but appraisal revealed two cuneiform tablets from Iraq valued at over $15,000 and dating to between 3000 and 2000 BCE. Further investigation found Weinberg had also illegally obtained shipments from Iran, Egypt, and Cyprus, all with undervalued manifests. In addition to forfeiting the artifacts for repatriation, Weinberg forfeited $75,000 and was barred for two years from selling or purchasing foreign antiquities. US Attorney John P. Heekin thanked federal law enforcement partners for recovering the artifacts.