Manhattan DA announces return of over 140 Italian artifacts valued at nearly $14 million

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office this week announced the return of dozens of artifacts to Italy in what the office called a "repatriation ceremony" of reportedly stolen objects. 

The office said in the announcement that it was returning "142 antiquities valued at nearly $14 million to the people of Italy" as part of the office's longtime investigation into Michael Steinhardt, "one of the world's largest ancient art collectors."

No criminal charges have been filed against Steinhardt in connection with the case, but he has been banned from acquiring any more antiquities for the rest of his life, the office said. 

"Though the pieces being repatriated today have a written price tag of millions of dollars, the historical, artistic, and cultural values attached to each of the relics are immeasurable and priceless," District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in the press release.

"There are far too many important cultural artifacts being illegally looted and trafficked across the globe," he added. "And we will continue to conduct these investigations in coordination with our law enforcement partners."