TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 3,000 fake Gibson guitars — which would have been worth nearly $19 million, had they been genuine.
Along with partners, CBP officers intercepted the guitars arriving by ship in ocean containers from Asia, the agency announced Tuesday.
“These fraudulent guitars may look and feel legitimate for unsuspecting consumers buying them from third-party online sources, street markets, unauthorized retailers, and person-to-person transactions,” said Cheryl M. Davies, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. “As we approach the busy holiday shopping season, consumers should pay attention to where they are buying these goods and how much they are paying, and if is too good to be true it probably is.”
“We are grateful for the hard work that our U.S. CBP officers, HSI special agents, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators are doing to stop counterfeiting,” added Cesar Gueikian, CEO of Gibson.
Counterfeit guitars seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (Credit: Mani Albrecht, Audio Visual Production Specialist U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs) More counterfeit guitars seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (Credit: Mani Albrecht, Audio Visual Production Specialist U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs) A Fender and a Gibson counterfeit guitar. (Credit: Mani Albrecht, Audio Visual Production Specialist U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs) A counterfeit Gibson Les Paul and Gibson SG guitar. (Credit: Mani Albrecht, Audio Visual Production Specialist U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs) A Gretsch, Gibson SG, and a PRS counterfeit guitar. (Credit: Mani Albrecht, Audio Visual Production Specialist U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs) Counterfeit Gibson Les Paul guitars.(Credit: Mani Albrecht, Audio Visual Production Specialist U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs) Counterfeit Gibson Les Paul guitars.(Credit: Mani Albrecht, Audio Visual Production Specialist U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Public Affairs) Above (L-R): Cheryl Davies (CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles), John Pasciucco (Los Angeles Deputy Special Agent in Charge, HSI), William J. Kitchin ll (Lieutenant Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, LASD), Andrea Bates (Partner, Bates and Bates), Beth Heidt (Chief Marketing Officer, Gibson), Raeann Vinton (Cultural Influence at Gibson), Africa R. Bell (Port Director LA/Long Beach Seaport, CBP), and Angel Villagrana (CBP Customs Trade Officer).
Gibson instruments are handcrafted in the U.S. at facilities in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bozeman, Montana, the company said.
“Intellectual property theft is not a victimless crime. Victims are American consumers, businesses, trademark holders and people who manufacture and sell legitimate products. Often, the illicit proceeds resulting from the sale of counterfeit or unlicensed products are funneled back to support a broad range of illegal activities,” said HSI Los Angeles Deputy Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco.
Gibson says on its website that it takes a “firm and aggressive stance against all makers of counterfeit guitars and their distribution channels.”
“If a guitar is being sold for a fraction of what it would typically sell for, it is likely not a real Gibson guitar,” the site states. “The best way for consumers to protect themselves against fraud is to purchase your Gibson guitar from an authorized dealer.”
Gibson fans concerned they have a fake – or are about to buy one – are urged to call (800) 444-2766 or use Gibson’s counterfeit reporting form to verify that the instrument is legitimate.
