The complaint alleges that the mosaic was imported into the United States with paperwork indicating that it was part of a shipment of vases and mosaics worth only about $2,200, but Alcharihi later admitted paying $12,000 for the items. Preliminary estimated values for the mosaic at issue in this case are much higher, according to the complaint.
The guy cheated and used the wrong tariff codes. And it is very probable that the mosaic was stolen and the paperwork is fake.
You can not plate gold with copper, import it as copper and then claim they "changed the valuation". It was always gold and you lied.
If we stopped caring and levying taxes a whole lot of government oversight could just go away.