June 8, 2023
Onur Aksoy, a 39-year-old entrepreneur from Miami, has confessed to engaging in a massive counterfeit scheme involving Cisco networking equipment.
From 2013 to 2022, Aksoy sold counterfeit Cisco products to a wide range of institutions, including schools, hospitals, government agencies, and even the military. His illicit operations spanned across 19 companies located in New Jersey and Florida, as well as 15 Amazon and 10 eBay stores.
Aksoy procured the counterfeit and pirated Cisco software from suppliers based in China and Hong Kong. These fake products were meticulously packaged in Cisco-branded boxes, complete with authentic labels and counterfeit documents. The Department of Justice reported that the use of these counterfeit devices resulted in substantial financial losses, totaling tens of thousands of dollars, for the unsuspecting customers who unknowingly purchased them.
Despite the substandard quality of the counterfeit goods, Aksoy managed to amass an astounding $100 million in revenue from his fraudulent businesses. Authorities then became aware of Aksoy’s illegal activities when the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency intercepted a staggering 180 shipments of counterfeit goods destined for companies owned by him between 2014 and 2022. Upon discovering the seized goods, Aksoy allegedly submitted falsified documents under the alias “Dave Durden” in an attempt to deceive investigators.
Under a plea agreement, Aksoy has admitted to lesser charges and is scheduled to appear in court on November 6. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence ranging from 48 to 78 months. Additionally, Aksoy will be required to forfeit $15 million in illicit profits and provide restitution to the customers he defrauded.
The sources for this piece include an article in TheRegister.
