xmas042908

On the homepage

Sunday's paper

Olympic moms get all-around gold

Out There

Gardens

Her garden became his inspiration

Scanners

Full-body scanners headed for MSP

Home | Local + Metro

Customs agents have makings for a heck of a holiday display

By DAN BROWNING, Star Tribune

Last update: April 29, 2008 - 1:28 AM

Maybe the U.S. government is planning a Christmas in July party.

Federal prosecutors have filed a complaint in Minneapolis seeking the forfeiture of 8,952 Christmas-tree light switches seized more than three years ago by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.

According to a complaint made public Monday, the switches were shipped from Taiwan to Minneapolis bearing counterfeit trademarks that indicated they had been approved by Underwriters Laboratories.

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. is a New York nonprofit that certifies products meet certain standards for fire and electrical safety.

Sharp-eyed U.S. agents spotted the bogus UL trademarks, which were printed with white text on a black background rather than the trademarked black text on a white background.

According to a sworn statement filed by customs officer Davis Onken, the switches were worth about $98,472 when they were seized Sept. 27, 2004. The importer, RC Co., a division of Plastech Corp., had a previous UL certificate but only for switches manufactured in Rush City, Minn., or at a particular plant in Taipei, Taiwan, Onken said.

A UL representative discovered that the plant's Taipei address was merely an office. The switches were actually made elsewhere by a manufacturer who was never authorized to use the UL trademark, he said.

The U.S. attorney's office did not respond Monday to messages seeking comment on the case or on what's likely to happen if it suddenly finds itself with 8,952 Christmas-tree light switches.

Dan Browning • 612-673-4493

Recent Local + Metro stories

New legal issue: Payment for child porn victims - April 29, 2008

New legal issue: Payment for child porn victims - It's been more than a decade since "Amy," as she's known in court papers, was first sexually abused by her uncle. The abuse ended long ago and he's in prison, but the pictures he made when she was 8 or 9 are among the most widely circulated child pornography images online. More

Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments

More coverage

StarTribune.com: Steals + Deals & Classifieds

Open positions!

A new career awaits. Look through thousands of listings to find your new job. Start now!

Save Money With E-mail Offers

Win tickets to see Minneapolis New Breed featuring Lamb Lays with Lion, Mad King Thomas and SuperGroup at The Southern Theater.

Vita.mn presents an opening-night performance from Minneapolis New Breed featuring Lamb Lays with Lion, Mad King Thomas and SuperGroup at The Southern Theater on the Feb. 25.

See all contests