13 October 2009
Family charged with selling counterfeit chips
Three members of a Californian family have been charged with selling counterfeit chips to the Navy and other government agencies.
Officials said that Mustaffa Aljaff, Marwah Felahy and Neil Felahy sold ics which had the potential to cause sophisticated military and government equipment to fail.
Prosecutors allege that the family imported more than 10,000 counterfeit circuits from China and Hong Kong and sold them on online. They also created their own circuits. Prosecutors said that this was achieved by sanding off a circuit's markings, repainting the devices and adding new markings, which allowed them to pass off the devices as being of a different brand or of military grade.
Acting US Attorney, Channing Phillips said: "This case highlights the significant potential impact such crimes also can have on public health and safety as well as national security."
If found guilty, the defendants could face prison sentences and fines of over $5million.
Author
Chris Shaw
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