News
ICE, CBP, DOJ announce international initiative against traffickers in counterfeit network hardware
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE Julie L. Myers, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division, Assistant Director James Finch of the FBI's Cyber Division, Commissioner W. Ralph Basham, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Inspector Peter Goulet, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), today announced the results to date of an ongoing international enforcement initiative between the United States and Canada that targets the illegal distribution of counterfeit network hardware manufactured in China.
ICE arrests 4 illegal aliens, seizes $5 million in counterfeit merchandise in Alabama
Four illegal aliens were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents yesterday for trafficking more than $5 million in counterfeit items.
Oregon man pleads guilty to selling counterfeit software worth $1 million
An Oregon man pleaded guilty today to selling counterfeit computer software with a retail value of more than $1 million, in addition to aggravated identity theft and mail fraud, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Alice S. Fisher and Karin J. Immergut, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Chinese Internet distributor convicted of trafficking in fake prescription drugs
The owner of Pacific Orient International Ltd. was convicted on Thursday of trafficking in counterfeit goods and trafficking in counterfeit pharmaceuticals. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
New National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center Opens in Virginia
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today the opening of a new high-tech National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Northern Virginia that will help maximize member agencies' authorities and resources to counter the global threat of intellectual property rights violations.
Software counterfeiter gets 4 years in web sales of $1 million
An Oregon man was sentenced today for selling counterfeit computer software with a retail value of more than $1 million, and for aggravated identity theft and mail fraud, the Justice department announced. This case of counterfeit sales on the Internet was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Cyber Crimes Unit.
Counterfeit product seizures up nearly 3% in mid-FY 2008
Coinciding with the opening of the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center in early July, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that seizures of counterfeit goods had increased by 2.7 % by the middle of this fiscal year (FY) to $113.2 million compared to $110.1 million in mid-FY 2007.
Los Angeles woman arrested after allegedly selling Human Growth Hormone and counterfeit Botox over the Internet
A woman from Marina Del Rey, Calif., appeared in federal court here yesterday afternoon on a criminal complaint stemming from her alleged role in a scheme to sell Human Growth Hormone (HGH), counterfeit Botox, and "generic" Restylane over the Internet to spas across the country.
2 physicians plead guilty in international Internet pharmacy conspiracy
Two physicians have pleaded guilty to conspiracy for their participation in an Internet pharmacy business that generated more than $126 million in gross revenues from the illegal sale of prescription pharmaceuticals.
Southern California doctor charged with bringing misbranded foreign cancer drugs into the United States
A Los Angeles-area doctor who specialized in treating cancer patients was arrested this morning by federal authorities after being charged with introducing foreign misbranded drugs into interstate commerce - drugs that according to some of his employees were sometimes watered down when they were administered to his patients.
3 N. Texas men plead guilty to commercially distributing pirated software
Defendants used multiple web sites to sell counterfeit software worth $2.5 million.
2 individuals and 2 companies pleaded guilty to counterfeit toothpaste trafficking
Two individuals and two corporations pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking in counterfeit and tainted Colgate toothpaste as a result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Pakistani man sentenced to 4 1/2 years for reselling phones
A Pakistani man living in Richmond, Texas, was sentenced Friday to almost five years in federal prison for violating an injunction entered against him by the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of Texas in a civil case filed by Virgin Mobile USA, LLC (Virgin Mobile) by selling and attempting to export "reflashed" Virgin Mobile cellular telephones. This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Special Agent in Charge Robert Rutt.
Two Virginia residents found guilty of conspiracy involving the importation and sale of falsely labeled fish
Peter Xuong Lam, of Fairfax, Va., was found guilty late yesterday by a federal jury in Los Angeles of conspiring to import mislabeled fish in order to avoid federal import tariffs, the Justice Department announced. Lam also was found guilty on three counts of dealing in fish that he knew had been imported contrary to law. Arthur Yavelberg, of Reston, Va., a co-conspirator, also was found guilty of conspiracy to trade in misbranded food. This case was a result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Washington field office.
National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center partners take part in international day of action on illegal pharmaceuticals
ICE, CBP, FDA, and USPIS scan international mail for drugs sold illegally on the Internet.
More than $500,000 worth of counterfeit Nike, Christian Dior and Ralph Lauren products seized in Charleston following ICE-led investigation
Counterfeit products including Nike, Christian Dior and Ralph Lauren with an estimated retail value of $542,310 was seized here Monday following a seven-month investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
13,000 pieces of counterfeit goods including Coach, Gucci and Nike with an estimated value of $250,000 were seized in Atlanta following an ICE investigation
Four search warrants executed here Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents led to the seizure of 13,000 pieces of counterfeit goods including Coach, Gucci and Nike with an estimated value of $250,000.
ICE and CBP seize over $6 million in harmful items at ports of entry
For law enforcement and regulatory agencies that partner in Operation Guardian, an initiative aimed at identifying products coming into the United States that could pose a risk to public health and safety, the holiday season is in their sights all year long. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced today that Operation Guardian, a multi-agency partnership aimed at stopping potentially harmful imports, has interdicted and seized more than $6 million in harmful commodities in the first year of operation, among them almost a half million dollars worth of substandard holiday lights seized in the last three months alone.
3 Texas men sentenced for roles in sale of $2.5 million in counterfeit software
Three defendants were sentenced to prison today for their roles in an online copyright infringement scheme involving the sale of counterfeit software worth $2.5 million. The cases were investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Cyber Crimes Center, the National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center and ICE field offices in Austin and San Antonio, Texas.
ICE, CBP increase seizure totals of counterfeit and pirated goods in 2008
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced today fiscal year 2008 seizures totaled more than $272.7 million in counterfeit and pirated goods, a 38 percent increase in domestic value over FY 2007.