Customs Misrepresentations Open the Door to Criminal Prosecution
Customs Misrepresentations Clearly Open the Door to Criminal Prosecutions; Not Just Civil Penalties.
I am not an attorney, but should you feel, or hear, that the DOJ is asking questions, or are just concerned, you need Legal Representation and a Plan, as it appears criminal penalties are on the horizon. This means that prison may be in your future, given that the DOJ used to have a 98% conviction rate.
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) is intensifying its focus on customs and tariff evasion, indicating that legal actions are forthcoming. With a data-driven approach, whistleblower incentives, and agency collaboration, more criminal charges and stricter border measures are expected.
Companies should promptly reassess risk management, enhance supply chain traceability, bolster governance to ensure tariff compliance, mitigate legal risks, and prepare for potential whistleblower investigations. Delaying action could lead to significant financial penalties and reputational harm.
Key types of tariff evasion include false claims about the country of origin and classification. Recent notable cases include:
– **Able Groupe Inc.** pleaded guilty to false customs documents.
– **UBS Gold** faces a complaint for evading over $86 million in customs duties.
– **Endless Sales Inc.** and **Octane Forklifts Inc.** were indicted for misrepresenting Chinese-made forklifts as “Made in America.”
These actions emphasize the DOJ’s commitment to combating tariff evasion, urging companies to bolster trade compliance programs and encourage whistleblowing to support fair competition for U.S. importers.
If this is concerning, please seek out legal representation.