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Underwriters Laboratories Helps Authorities Seize Counterfeit Goods in Miami

NORTHBROOK, Ill., - February 6, 2006 - A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted five people for importing goods bearing counterfeit UL Marks and trademarks into the United States from China last month.

Lizhou Shao, Changbiao Fu, Li Fen Fu, Ji Wu Chen and Meihua Li were indicted on three separate charges:

  • Conspiring to traffic in counterfeit goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371
  • Trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2320(a)
  • Concealing and selling imported counterfeit goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 545

The defendants could each face up to five years in prison and a $2 million fine for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods; 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for trafficking in counterfeit goods; and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for illegally concealing and selling counterfeit goods.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and the Miami-Dade Police Department conducted searches of the defendants' homes, warehouses and flea market booths in mid-December. In all, they confiscated counterfeit electrical cords, batteries, handbags, wallets, suitcases, shoes, hats, sunglasses, watches, key holders, umbrellas, and different items of clothing and accessories.

In collaboration with ICE agents and the Miami-Dade Police Department, Underwriters Laboratories participated in testing the counterfeit items, which bore counterfeit UL Marks as well as counterfeit trademarks of Duracell, Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Prada, Gucci, Coach, Disney, Nike, Major League Baseball, Oakley and others.

"UL's mission is to support the production and use of products that are physically and environmentally safe," said Brian Monks, managing director of anti-counterfeiting for UL. "The organization has a zero-tolerance policy for commodities that bear a counterfeit UL Mark, as these items pose a serious safety threat to any consumers who use them."

For the past decade, UL has worked in coalition with the U.S. Customs Border Protection and ICE to pursue the protection of its certification Marks. Through this partnership, UL is involved in identifying and inspecting the goods that bear the counterfeit Mark after seizures take place. In addition, UL's anti-counterfeiting unit is directly involved in seizures and sting operations.

"Even though only a small percentage of goods bear counterfeit UL Marks, UL works very hard to protect its integrity, and more importantly the integrity of manufacturers whose products undergo the series of rigorous Standards tests necessary to obtain the UL Mark," said Monks. "At stake is the safety of U.S. consumers, which is the core of UL's corporate mission."

For more information on UL's anti-counterfeiting program or to report a suspected misuse of UL Marks, contact Brian Monks in Melville, N.Y., USA, by phone at +1-631-271-6200, ext. 22856; or by e-mail at Brian.H.Monks@us.ul.com.

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