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SALT LAKE CITY—A federal judge has denied a request to dismiss 14 felony counts against a Utah man charged after a two-year federal investigation into illegal trafficking of American Indian artifacts.
Joseph M. Smith of Blanding pleaded not guilty last year to 28 counts related to the alleged theft and sale of jewelry, sandals and other ancient artifacts from public and tribal lands.
His federal defender in January asked that half the counts be dismissed, saying Smith was charged several times for the same alleged criminal conduct.
U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart denied the motion on Friday.
Smith was one of 26 people charged as part of the Four Corners investigation.
![[prison 19] Caption: This is Cellhouse 1, Pod A, from ground level inside the Sterling Correctional Facility which is located outside of Sterling, Colorado Thursday afternoon. Photographer: LEW SHERMAN Title: FREELANCE Credit: SPECIAL TO THE POST City: Sterling State: CO Country: USA Date: 19990617 ObjectName: prison 19 Keyword: PUBDATE____1999_06_22](/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/20151207__denverpostp1.jpg?w=538 "20151207__denverpost~p1.jpg")
