Original URL: http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/28/cisco_counterfeit_goods_texas/
Two US brothers have been charged with various crimes after they allegedly sold counterfeit Cisco equipment to several government agencies including the FBI, the Federal Aviation Authority and the Marine Corps.
Other agencies which fell for the scam included the US Air Force, Department of Energy and various federal prisons.
Charges brought against the two Richmond brothers include conspiracy and trafficking in counterfeit goods. Michael Edman, 36, and Robert Edman, 28, are due in federal court on 4 January.
Under the indictment the Texan pair are accused of registering a business name of “Syren Technology” and importing and then passing off imitation computer cards and other components as being manufactured by Cisco.
The men are accused of importing cartons full of counterfeit Cisco stickers which were then attached to the phony components.
They also stand accused of importing empty boxes with Cisco logos that were used to package the equipment for shipment to make it appear like legitimate products.
Prior to the indictment against the brothers, the US immigration and customs enforcement agency raided Michael Edman's home and ranch. The Feds have also begun filing paperwork in order to seize the ranch which is worth around half a million dollars.
On Monday,Click2Huston.com (http://www.click2houston.com/news/14920413/detail.html) reported that neighbours had seen boxes of computer gear coming and going from the house.
According to court papers, federal agents investigating the men were tipped off by a seller of the counterfeit goods in China.
If convicted of the charges the brothers may be sent to federal prison or could receive probation. ®
FBI probe discovers counterfeit kit in US military networks (9 May 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/09/fbi_counterfeit_kit_probe/
US, Canada seize fake Cisco goods (3 March 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/03/03/cisco_counterfeit_goods_doj/
Chambers number 2 walks out of Cisco (21 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/21/cisco_giancarlo_quits/
Counterfeiters told to pay Symantec $21m (20 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/20/symantec_software_piracy_win/
Cisco to get API-happy (17 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/17/cisco_ios_modules/
Cisco punts buzzword bingo 'OS' (13 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/13/cisco_entertainment_operating_system/
Rogue servers point users to impostor sites (11 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/11/dns_liar_attack/
Microsoft fires broadside of writs at China pirates (11 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/11/microsoft_pirates_ebay/
Cisco grabs Motorola ex-technology chief (5 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/05/cisco_hires_padmasree_warrior_for_cto/
Counterfeit Vista rate half that of XP (4 December 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/12/04/vista_piracy/
IBM sues seller over alleged fake ThinkPad batteries (30 November 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/30/ibm_sues_shentech_com/
Cisco fires Brazil chief over tax fraud charges (23 November 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/23/cisco_fires_brazilian_director/
Cisco hack suspect convicted of breaking into universities (22 November 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/22/swedish_uni_hack_conviction/
FAST cracks down on pirates near Penzance (13 November 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/13/fast_cornish_roofer_software_pirate/
Microsoft fires cannon at counterfeiters (2 November 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/02/microsoft_howtotell_software_pirates/
UK.gov lambasted for ignoring peers' cybercrime report (30 October 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/10/30/ukgov_cybercrime_response/
Cisco kicks UK distie for flogging counterfeit kit (2 October 2007)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/10/02/cisco_counterfeit_equipment/
© Copyright 2008