see also: in October 2002:   Alleged Colombian Heroin Distributor Arrested in Chicago; Among 25 Charged in Operation Smackdown Led by Customs Agents   U.S. Customs Publishes Final Regulations to Require Advance Shipping Information   Customs Agent is Presented the Presidential Council on Integrity and Efficiency Award   U.S. Customs Inspectors Seize $7.6 Million in Cocaine at Hidalgo/Pharr in Five Days   More Than 300 Registered for Customs Trade Symposium 2002   Wang Pleads Guilty to Bribery, Smuggling in Export Scheme Involving Chinese Textiles   China Joins the U.S. in Container Security Initiative ...more

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Miami, FL - Marcos Jimenez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John P. Clark, Special Agent In Charge, United States Customs Service, announced that Bonnie Yuk Chuen Gene Ng pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday, October 18, 2002, to conspiracy in the smuggling and trafficking of counterfeit computer components.

Bonnie Yuk Chuen Gene Ng, owner of CDCOM (USA) INTERNATIONAL INC., and EVERCOM INC., is charged with taking part in a multi-million dollar international smuggling and counterfeiting operation with ties to counterfeit computer components manufacturers in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea.

The defendants also operated a state-of-the-art counterfeiting operation at three locations in Miami, Florida, including a clandestine warehouse where industrial grade manufacturing equipment was utilized to counterfeit Central Processing Units (CPUs). Many of the counterfeit CPUs apparently were remarked to indicate a higher operating speed than the original product.

A search warrant executed at the business premises of CDCOM (USA) INTERNATIONAL INC., confirmed that the defendant was importing and trafficking in computer components and other goods bearing the trademarks of domestic and foreign companies including Intel, Microsoft, NEC, Motorola, AMD and Texas Instruments. A search of the clandestine warehouse resulted in the seizure of counterfeiting plates, laser engravers and related remarking equipment which were utilized by the defendant to counterfeit the trademarks of Intel and AMD on Central Processing Units (CPUs). Counterfeit CPUs were also seized.

A review and analysis of seized business records revealed that CDCOM (USA) INTERNATIONAL INC., allegedly had sold over $36,000,000 in counterfeit computer components from 1994 through 1998. Five other defendants had pleaded guilty on September 11, 2002, to similar charges.