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Columbia, South Carolina-The U.S. Customs Service today announced the seizure of nearly half a million dollars of counterfeit technical manuals and parts for Caterpillar heavy equipment and the arrest of one individual in an international undercover investigation. Robert M. Gattison, U.S. Customs Special Agent in Charge-Atlanta called the case "one of the largest in the history of the heavy equipment industry and a vivid example of the fact that high-tech bandits are a threat to American jobs and industry."

The arrest was made for the infringement of copyright for commercial advantage and arose out of the manufacture and distribution of unauthorized reproductions of a licensed technical information system for Caterpillar heavy equipment and the distribution of counterfeit Caterpillar parts.

Caterpillar's technical information system is a digital library of parts and product catalogs, service manuals, schematics, tooling information, product warnings and recalls. Customs investigative efforts, in cooperation with Caterpillar, Inc. and George Arnold and Associates, have resulted in the seizure of 13 sets of counterfeit technical manuals.

According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, the Customs investigation revealed that the counterfeit technical information system was smuggled into the United States from India, where security encryption had been broken and copies were made.

Undercover Customs Service agents were able to penetrate the international organization and make purchases. Customs agents later became distributors of the copyrighted material.

Customs agents arrested Virendra MUNDRA of Calcutta, India. The investigation is ongoing in an effort to identify other individuals and companies who have purchased and or distributed the counterfeit technical manuals.

According to the complaint, the enforcement action came after U.S. Customs in Columbia and Greenville conducted a 13-month-long undercover investigation targeting foreign manufacturers, importers, and distributors of counterfeit heavy equipment parts.

Although the case was based in South Carolina, it focused on the international distribution of counterfeit Caterpillar technical information and heavy equipment parts. The investigation was a coordinated effort with assistance from U.S. Customs investigative offices in Los Angeles, California and Columbus, Ohio.

According to the complaint, the components were distributed at trade shows and through an Internet Web site developed and utilized to offer the illicit products for sale. The Web site also provided instructions for purchase, payment and shipment.

The illegal manufacture of counterfeit parts affects U.S. jobs and has safety implications. Customs estimates that businesses and industries lose about $200 billion a year in revenue and 750,000 jobs due to the counterfeiting of merchandise.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina will be prosecuting this case.

Those arrested have been charged in a criminal complaint with violations of 18 USC 2319, criminal infringement of copyright, which carries a sentence of up to 5 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial.