Missouri Woman Sentenced for Selling Counterfeit Cell Phone Accessories

On January 20, 2017, a Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court for selling more than $90 million worth of counterfeit cell phone components including, but not limited to, replacement screens, lithium batteries, weight scales, phone cases and internal circuitry, to consumers in person and over the Internet. The cell phone components were manufactured by legitimate companies – including Apple, Samsung, LG, Microsoft, Android, Dell, Blackberry, ASUS, Acer, Kindle, HTC, Motorola, Nokia, Sony, ZTE and others. Although each part contained trademarks and markings that made it appear the legitimate holder of the trademark had manufactured the parts, the components were actually counterfeit. After seizing each shipment, Customs Border and Protection (CBP) issued a letter of notification informing the woman of the seizure due to confiscated counterfeit items. Notwithstanding being notified by CBP that the items were counterfeit she continued to sell the same.

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