On 27 December it was announced that a Florida man had pleaded guilty to "engaging in a scheme to illegally import the fossilized remains of numerous dinosaurs that had been taken out of their native countries illegally and smuggled into the United States". The skeletons included that of a Tyrannosaurus bataar – an Asian relative of Tyrannosaurus rex – that had been imported via the UK and sold at auction in May for over $1m, despite an injunction issued by a US judge.

The guilty plea by self-proclaimed 'commercial palaeontologist' Eric Prokopi was announced by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York 'Preet' Bharara, who had taken up the case on behalf of the Mongolian Government. As part of a plea bargain, Prokopi has agreed to the forfeiture of the nearly complete Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton, as well as a second nearly complete specimen in the US, a Saurolophus skeleton and an Oviraptor skeleton, all of which had been in his possession and were recently recovered by the government. He will also forfeit his interest in a third Tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton believed to be still in Great Britain.

Preet Bharara said: "Fossils and ancient skeletal remains are part of the fabric of a country's natural history and cultural heritage and black marketeers like Prokopi, who illegally export and sell these wonders, steal a slice of that history. We are pleased that we can now begin the process of returning these prehistoric fossils to their countries of origin."

Many of the fossils were unlawfully taken from Mongolia in violation of Mongolian laws declaring dinosaur fossils to be the property of the Government of Mongolia, and criminalizing their export from the country.

According to a release by the US Attorney's Office: "Aware that the dinosaur fossils had been removed from Mongolia illegally, Prokopi worked with others to bring these dinosaur fossils into the United States, using false or misleading statements on customs forms concerning their identity, origin, and value. He then sold or attempted to sell these fossils to others."

When the specimen that was auctioned in May was imported from Dorset it was falsely declared to have been excavated in the UK and worth $15,000.
Prokopi faces a lengthy prison term – up to 10 years for the most serious count – as well as forfeiting the fossils.