Company owner sentenced for illegal importation of goods from China to avoid paying customs duties

BALTIMORE — Jin Qing Huang, 57, a citizen of the People's Republic of China, was sentenced to 16 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander for understating the value of goods imported into the United States from China to avoid paying antidumping duties.

The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

According to his plea agreement and court documents, from 2006 to 2010, Huang controlled Woncity and other corporations that imported merchandise including plastic bags and other restaurant supplies from China. Huang and Woncity operated warehouses at 1225 4th St., NE, Washington, D.C. and 2800 Annapolis Road in Baltimore. CBP assesses antidumping duties on plastic bags to prevent foreign manufacturers and importers from "dumping" merchandise at below cost in the United States. Plastic bags exported from China are subject to a 77.57 percent antidumping duty.

On July 19, 2007, Huang imported merchandise into the United States from China, falsely stating that the value of merchandise was $52,494, when in fact the value was $82,196. Similarly, on May 22, 2008, Huang imported goods into the United States from China, falsely stating that the value of goods was $10,073, when in fact the value was $30,118. Huang admits that he underpaid the legally required duty on imports, charged and not charged in this case, by an amount between $5,000 and $10,000.

The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Harry Gruber and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony V. Teelucksingh of the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.