Tyngsboro Company Charged with Selling Counterfeit Computer Equipment

BOSTON—A Tyngsboro company was charged today in federal court with selling counterfeit computer equipment.

BIZI INTERNATIONAL, INC., was charged in a one-count Information with trafficking in counterfeit goods. According to the information, from 2005-2007, BIZI sold what it claimed was authentic Cisco Systems computer networking hardware. It is alleged that BIZI had not obtained this computer hardware through authorized Cisco distributors or resellers, however. Rather, it is alleged that BIZI bought these items from sources who were selling them at a fraction of the standard retail prices. According to the Information, BIZI then resold these products, generally via the Internet, knowing that a significant portion of this equipment was counterfeit. It is alleged that BIZI generated more than $200,000 in revenue from the sale of this counterfeit Cisco equipment.

If convicted, BIZI faces a maximum sentence of five years' probation, a $5 million fine, and restitution.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bookbinder in Ortiz’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Crime Unit.

The details contained in the Information are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.