According to FBI and BLM officials, the source rooted out a large, tight-knit network that transcended dealers by including several "diggers" who regularly pillage village and burial sites — many unknown to the scientific community.

Artifacts are usually sold with a statement identifying the origin of the object known as a letter of provenance, which essentially ensures the find was legal. But according to officials, video surveillance showed dealers misrepresenting the origin of several objects, which they say were found on Bureau of Land Management property.

During a recorded conversation, the source witnessed hundreds of illegal artifacts while he followed "dealer" David Lacy, 55, around his house, according to documents. The source bought three items: a knife for $2,800, a turkey-feather-and-yucca-plant blanket for $900 and a digging stick for $1,000. The warrant also identified a storage shed full of artifacts.

During another meeting, the source paid $5,000 for several items ranging from sandals to a female loincloth that Lacy told the source were found at Baby Mummy Cave and Alkali Ridge — both BLM-owned properties.

But when Lacy signed the letter of provenance, he indicated the items were found on private land, according to federal charges. Lacy faces 15 criminal charges.

Many of the criminal defendants appeared in federal court in Moab on Wednesday and a detention hearing is being held this morning for a 55-year-old Blanding woman.

All are accused of violating the federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act, which sets in play a wide variety of prohibitions including the excavation, removal, damage of archaeological resources or their sale or trade.

Both Tolman and Jones say such looting and bartering are on the uptick because the underground market for the property is lucrative, the players are secretive and the undocumented sites are plentiful.

"Depending on what they are, there is a pretty good market with pretty active trading in ancient relics," Jones said, adding such items are incredibly difficult to track or even authenticate.

"It is very hard to determine where an artifact came from," he said. "It is not unlike finding a liter bottle of Coca Cola and trying to determine where it was stolen from. There's no serial numbers."

Tolman said he believes much of the bartering goes unchecked for that reason, also aided by the tendency of some purveyors and purchasers to turn a blind-eye to an object ill-gotten from public lands.

Although federal prosecutors assigned a cash value to the items uncovered as a result of the operation, Larry EchoHawk, the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs and former Utahn, said the theft of such items goes beyond monetary value.

"I can say on behalf of Native Americans these articles are really priceless. You can't put a dollar figure on it."

It is, many say, akin to stealing from America's oldest Americans.

"The American people have got to pay more respect for these sacred treasures which represent the heritage of ancient people," said Forrest Cuch, head of the state division of Indian Affairs. "There has to be more respect for the people who have gone before us."

E-MAIL: amyjoi@desnews.com