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Jericca Redd, left, Jeanne Redd, center, and defense attorney Mark Moffat walk away from the Federal Courthouse Wednesday. The mother and daughter from Blanding avoided prison time when they were sentenced in federal court Wednesday for illegally trafficking in American Indian artifacts.
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Their offenses were serious enough for prison time -- 10 felonies between them on charges of illegal trafficking in ancient American Indian artifacts -- but Blanding residents Jeanne Redd and daughter Jericca won't be locked up.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups sentenced Jeanne Redd to 36 months' probation and a $2,000 fine and Jericca Redd to 24 months' probation and a $300 fine.

Relying on sentencing guidelines, federal prosecutors had recommended probation for Jericca Redd, 37, but 18 months in prison for Jeanne Redd, 59.

But Waddoups declared he would "vary" from the guidelines, given where Jeanne Redd lives.

"This is a community where this kind of conduct" is commonly tolerated and "has been justified for a number of years," Waddoups said. "This is a woman who has spent her life as a member of her community."

Waddoups obliquely referred to the suicide of Redd's husband as among "other consequences" she has experienced during the artifact-trafficking investigation and prosecution that began in 2006. James Redd, a Blanding physician, killed himself the day after he was indicted in June.

"I want to express my thanks," Waddoups said to the Redds and their family. "I know this has been a terrible experience for all of you."

As for Blanding, a southeastern Utah community where digging, buying and selling Ancient Puebloan artifacts has been commonly accepted, "prosecution in this case provides

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sufficient deterrence," the judge said.

U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman said his office considered 18 months in prison an appropriate sentence for Jeanne Redd, who faced prosecution on similar state charges in the 1990s. But Tolman said Waddoups' decision was within his discretion.

Still, the prosecutor added, "the public needs to understand that looting artifacts, many considered sacred by Native Americans, from public and tribal lands is simply not going to be tolerated. It is clear that there is a continued need for education on the serious nature of these crimes."

The Redds' plea agreement, struck July 6, was the first in cases built during a 2 1/2-year investigation in which an undercover operative known only as the "Source" bought, sold or traded more than 250 ancient tribal artifacts.

The Redds are among 26 defendants -- most of them from Blanding -- indicted in the crackdown on illegal antiquity trafficking. A week after Redd's suicide, defendant Steven Shrader, of Santa Fe, N.M., shot himself to death in Illinois.

Jeanne Redd pleaded guilty to seven felonies: two counts of violating the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, two counts of theft of government property and three counts of theft of American Indian tribal property. Each charge carried potential fines of $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison.

Jericca Redd admitted to three felonies for digging up a seed jar, a vase and a pottery vessel April 8, 2008, on the Navajo reservation.

Court papers showed that the sentences included forfeiture of 812 artifacts, including nine human teeth -- one with a root attached, two adult canine teeth, a juvenile molar and an infant's tooth -- finger bones and other human remains.

Other artifacts forfeited include hundreds of stone tools, Ancestral Puebloan ceramic bowls and sacred tribal ceremonial items from graves and ruins on Southwestern tribal or public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service in the Four Corners region.

Before Waddoups pronounced sentence on Jeanne Redd, defense attorneys Rod Snow, of Denver, and Mark Moffat, of Salt Lake City, had to help her stand. Snow later said he had known the Redds for many years, but James Redd's reasons for suicide were a mystery to him. "I was very close," Snow said, "and I don't have an answer."

Physician Paul Reay, who practiced with James Redd at the Blanding Clinic, welcomed the probation sentences as "very good news" and said the suicide "may have been in Jim's calculation."

"He may have hoped he would influence the trial," Reay said. "He would be very happy."

Utah Division of Indian Affairs Director Forrest Cuch could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But after the July hearing, he said the Redds' pleas "will send a message to all other prospective looters that this is a very serious offense."

George Hardeen, spokesman for Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr., acknowledged Jeanne Redd's suffering.

"The Navajo people are compassionate toward others who have had a tragic loss as the Redd family have," Hardeen said. "At the same time, Navajos have a deep respect for burials and ruins and teach that these are not to be disturbed. Obviously, Navajos want them left alone and not looted for their artifacts."

San Juan County Sheriff Mike Lacy, whose brother David is a defendant in the artifact case and who has been critical of the federal handling of the raid, said he has "mixed emotions" about the Redds' sentencing.

"But I can say I'm glad they didn't go to jail."

Tribune reporter Christopher Smart contributed to this story.

The investigation

A June 10 raid -- and the continuing investigation -- netted dozens of people, mostly Utahns, suspected of illegal trafficking in American Indian antiquities. Blanding residents Jeanne and Jericca Redd are the first to be sentenced in the crackdown. Two other defendants -- James Redd and Steven Shrader -- committed suicide.