Federal authorities are seeking the co-owner of a southern California online business who they say imported and attempted to sell hundreds of counterfeit, EOTech holographic rifle sights on the Internet.
By J.R. Absher (RSS)
April 6, 2011
An arrest warrant has been issued for Yongmin “Steven” Sui, 53, the chief executive officer of Anaheim-based Field Sport Inc. He faces two felony counts of manufacturing and selling a counterfeit mark. Two of Sui’s business associates have been arrested on the same charges and are slated for arraignment April 22. Sui is believed to be in China.
The criminal charges are the result of an investigation that began in early March after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers conducting a routine mail inspection discovered 700 counterfeit EOTech rifle sights and 200 magnifier systems in a shipment originating from China and destined for Field Sport Inc.
The case was jointly investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Anaheim Police Department (APD).
The retail value of the knock-off sights was estimated at $475,000, according ICE officials.
While the counterfeit sights were apparently accurate cosmetic replicas of the popular EOTech rifle sights, authorities said the quality was noticeably inferior to the real thing.
“Anytime you purchase a knock off or pirated product, it’s a virtual certainty the quality and reliability will be inferior to the genuine article.” Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for ICE HSI in Los Angeles said in an agency press release. “When you’re talking about counterfeit gun sights, the implications are frightening. This case serves as a powerful reminder about the public safety risks associated with product counterfeiting and demonstrates yet again why intellectual property enforcement is and will continue to be a top priority for ICE HSI.”
Sui faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in prison if convicted.
By J.R. Absher (RSS)
April 6, 2011
An arrest warrant has been issued for Yongmin “Steven” Sui, 53, the chief executive officer of Anaheim-based Field Sport Inc. He faces two felony counts of manufacturing and selling a counterfeit mark. Two of Sui’s business associates have been arrested on the same charges and are slated for arraignment April 22. Sui is believed to be in China.
The criminal charges are the result of an investigation that began in early March after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers conducting a routine mail inspection discovered 700 counterfeit EOTech rifle sights and 200 magnifier systems in a shipment originating from China and destined for Field Sport Inc.
The case was jointly investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Anaheim Police Department (APD).
The retail value of the knock-off sights was estimated at $475,000, according ICE officials.
While the counterfeit sights were apparently accurate cosmetic replicas of the popular EOTech rifle sights, authorities said the quality was noticeably inferior to the real thing.
“Anytime you purchase a knock off or pirated product, it’s a virtual certainty the quality and reliability will be inferior to the genuine article.” Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for ICE HSI in Los Angeles said in an agency press release. “When you’re talking about counterfeit gun sights, the implications are frightening. This case serves as a powerful reminder about the public safety risks associated with product counterfeiting and demonstrates yet again why intellectual property enforcement is and will continue to be a top priority for ICE HSI.”
Sui faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in prison if convicted.
