FALSE U.S. EXPORT DECLARATION NABS N.J. MEDICAL TEST EQUIPMENT SHIPPER
Immunostics Inc., an Ocean, N.J.-based manufacturer and supplier of
medical test equipment, pleaded guilty last Friday in U.S. District Court
at Newark, N.J., to submitting a false shipper’s export declaration to the
U.S. Commerce Department and Customs Service.
"The SED falsely represented that an attached commercial invoice was
true and accurate when, in fact, Immunostics has knowingly and willfully
understated the price that it had charged its foreign customs for the
shipment," said Commerce’s Export Administration, which led a two-year
investigation of Immunostics’ activities.
The company’s president and chief executive officer Kenneth Kupits
entered the plea before District Judge William G. Bassler. Although
sentencing has not yet occurred, it’s expected that the Assistant U.S.
Attorney will request a fine of $48,000 to be imposed on Immunostics. The
company is not expected to oppose the fine.