Pacific walrus. (Photo courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association)

A Skagway man has been indicted on charges of ivory smuggling according to an announcement made Friday morning by the Department of Justice.

The indictment alleges that James Terrance Williams exported raw walrus ivory tusks from Alaska to Indonesia for carving, then smuggled the tusks back into the U.S.

An investigation led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that Williams submitted false records of the importation, transportation and sale of the tusks from 2014 to 2016.

Walrus ivory cannot be exported out of the United States, nor imported into the United States, without a permit. If convicted, Williams faces up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.

Williams buys, sells and trades art through his business Inside Passage Arts. The Skagway business specializes in Native Northwest American Art , Asian Arts and antiques. The gallery’s website described Williams as a “world traveler” who is known throughout the Northwest, Alaska and Bali, “where he accumulates unique art and artifacts.”

Williams could not be reached for this story.

Correction: A previous version of this story stated that Williams’ business, Inside Passage Arts, had closed. While the physical gallery closed, Williams continued to sell art online and in other shops around Skagway.