Jewelry Company Charged in $86M Duty Evasion Scheme | Customs & International Trade Law Blog

On November 17, 2025, the proprietor of an Indonesian jewellery firm (USB Gold) and two staff have been charged with collaborating in a scheme to evade over $86 million in duties on jewellery imports. 

The staff have been arrested and charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and have been detained. The corporate co-owner, who was additionally charged, stays in Indonesia and has not but been arrested.

The defendants allegedly engaged in a fancy scheme to import over $1.2 billion of bijou and illegally defraud the USA out of greater than $86 million in customs duties and tariffs. 

The alleged scheme included two elements:

First, UBS Gold made jewellery in Indonesia and shipped it to Jordan, which had a Free Commerce Settlement with the USA, earlier than sending it to the USA. The defendants then falsely claimed that UBS Gold jewellery had been manufactured in Jordan, which prevented the responsibility that will in any other case apply.
Second, when the U.S. introduced further tariffs on Indonesia and Jordan earlier this yr, the corporate started transport scrap gold from the U.S. to Jordan, which they falsely claimed was gold jewellery that merely wanted to be assembled or completed in Jordan. As an alternative, the defendants and co-conspirators swapped the scrap gold for UBS Gold jewellery made in Indonesia, which they then shipped from Jordan to the U.S. The defendants falsely claimed that the jewellery had been manufactured within the U.S., so they might keep away from paying the tariffs that will in any other case apply.

The wire fraud conspiracy cost carries a most of 20 years in jail and a most superb of both $250,000 for the person defendants or $500,000 for the company entity or twice the acquire or loss from the offense, whichever is bigger.

​​This case demonstrates the federal government’s concentrate on enforcement and the significance of prioritizing compliance packages. Though this case was egregious, importers can nonetheless face substantial fines and penalties after they fail to train affordable care and misclassify items or misstate the nation of origin. 

Diaz Commerce Regulation may help create an import compliance plan for your online business or overview and replace an current one. To be taught extra about how we may help, contact us at data@diaztradelaw.com or name us at 305-456-3830.

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