The United States has filed a civil lawsuit against Repwire LLC, a Florida Corporation that imports wire and cables. The lawsuit alleges that Repwire made false statements to customs officials in importing aluminum wire into the United States. The lawsuit also names as defendants Repwire’s manager, Jose Pigna, and insurer, American Alternative Insurance Corporation.
The Complaint contends that Repwire, through gross negligence or negligence, misrepresented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the imported wire’s classification code and country of origin. Repwire allegedly falsely classified the imported wire from China as aluminum wire with connectors instead of wire without connectors, and after import duties on the former were subsequently raised, Repwire allegedly then falsely identified the country of origin for various entries of its merchandise as Singapore or Korea. Both of these alleged misrepresentations resulted in Repwire failing to pay the appropriate amount of duties owed on its merchandise. Here’s a copy of the Complaint: https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1367731/dl?inline
The complaint also alleges that Repwire, acting through Pigna, avoided various duties owed on the imported wire, including Section 301 duties, which are owed on certain Chinese merchandise, including aluminum wires without connectors, and anti-dumping and countervailing duties associated with Chinese aluminum wire. Antidumping and countervailing duties are trade remedies that help protect domestic industries from unfair trade practices by foreign businesses and countries, such as government subsidies or below market sales.
The complaint seeks the recovery of over $11 million in import duties and up to $62 million in civil penalties.
The case, which is filed in the Court of International Trade, is captioned United States v. Repwire LLC, and Jose Pigna, and American Alternative Insurance Corporation, No. 24-00173.
Jeff Newman JD MBA, represents whistleblowers nationwide relating to Medicare and Medicaid fraud, under the state and federal False Claims Act (Qui Tam) laws as well as whistleblowers in major claims under the SEC, CFTC and FINCEN whistleblower programs. He can be reached at Jeff@JeffNewmanLaw.com or at 617-823-3217
