Ten members of an international smuggling ring have been arrested and charged with paying more than $500,000 in bribes to smuggle millions of dollars in fake designer goods from China to the United States. The defendants were expected to appear December 6 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas.
The counterfeit goods included designer jeans, Nike shoes, Burberry and Chanel handbags, and Polo and Baby Phat clothing, according to a news release from the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York.
If convicted, they face up to 35 years in prison, at least $2.5 million in fines and an obligation to pay restitution to the manufacturers of the genuine versions of the goods.
Among those arrested in the sting were Robin Huff, 46, of New York, a federally licensed customs broker who is accused of using a Customs and Border Patrol database to help push goods through the port. Also arrested were Chi On Wong, 36, and Man Wai Cheng, 34, both of New York, who operated a Brooklyn-based trucking company, KT Express Inc. Also arrested December 5 were: Grace Quezon, 38, of Jersey City, New Jersey; Michael Chu, 70, of New York; Hsi Feng Li, 61, of New York, aka "the General;" Yee Khiong Ting, 44, of New York;
Troy King, 37, of New York; Wing Ki Lee, 36, of Jersey City; and Dick Ong, 57, of Bergenfield, New Jersey. (Source: CNN.com, Dec 6, 2007).