Customs fraud is a catch-all term for frauds committed by companies trying to evade payments that are owed to the federal government in connection with the importation of goods into the United States. While there are many variations, the two major types of payments that are in play for imported goods are “antidumping” duties [...]
In a lesser-known area of False Claims Act liability, importers can face exposure for failing to adequately report the value of goods arriving in the U.S. from abroad. In a recent settlement under the False Claims Act, two individuals have agreed to pay $435,000 to resolve allegations they [...]
Three U.S.-based importers of aluminum products, including California-based C.R. Laurence Co. Inc., Florida-based Southeastern Aluminum Products Inc., and Texas-based Waterfall Group LLC have agreed to pay a total of $3 million to settle allegations of evading proper customs payments for the importation of aluminum extrusions from China. Companies that cheat the government out of [...]
One of the world’s largest manufacturers of eco-friendly reusable shopping bags has settled claims it unlawfully evaded customs payments by using a complex invoicing scheme designed to intentionally defraud the government out of money. Following a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former executive with Green Bag Co., Inc., investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office [...]
The False Claims Act covers a wide array of fraudulent activities. In a case against cell phone accessory maker OtterBox, the federal government alleged its parent company, Otter Products, LLC, shortchanged the government’s Internal Revenue Service with regard to taxes due on imports from China. Under the False Claims Act, [...]
