U.S. Attorney Announces $1.3 Million Settlement Of Civil Fraud Lawsuit Against Apparel Importer For Underreporting Value Of Goods To Avoid Paying Customs Duties

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), AnnMarie R. Highsmith, Executive Assistant Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (“CBP”) Office of Trade, and Francis Russo, Director of CBP Field Operations New York, announced that the United States has entered into a settlement agreement to resolve a civil fraud lawsuit against HIGH LIFE LLC (“HIGH LIFE”), an apparel design and import company headquartered in Manhattan, for underreporting to CBP the value of apparel imported into the United States. The settlement resolves claims that HIGH LIFE underreported the value of 67 apparel shipments in order to avoid paying the full customs duties owed. Under the settlement agreement approved by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero, HIGH LIFE has agreed to pay $1.3 million to the United States and has made admissions regarding certain conduct alleged in the Government’s Complaint.

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