Aluminum Extruders Council applauds prison sentence issued by federal judge

On Thursday May 14, 2015 Federal Judge Francisco Besosa in Puerto Rico handed down an 18-month prison sentence to Armando Garcia Vazquez, who pleaded guilty to participating in a fraud scheme to transship aluminum extrusions through Malaysia from China into Puerto Rico in order to avoid paying two million dollars in duties. This is the first time prison time has been issued for violating the aluminum extrusion orders. The Judge rejected the agreement reached by the defendant’s lawyer Francisco Rebollo and US Attorney Scott Anderson, who recommended a sentence of probation.

Steve Lausell and Alberto Recio of Lausell Del Caribe, LLC an aluminum extruder in Puerto Rico, testified before the judge arguing for a stiffer penalty in order to send a message aimed at deterring other aluminum importers against fraudulent behavior. Mr. Recio, the President of Lausell stated, “Although we derived no pleasure from this process and nothing will undo the damage done to our families, employees, and industry, we feel that we have prevailed in setting a precedent. We can only hope that this will serve as a deterrent to others circumventing or considering this crime in the future.”

The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) leadership supported the effort to petition the court for a stronger sentence by sending letters to the judge. Jeff Henderson, Director of Operations at the AEC, testified to the Probation Officer about the need for the court to send a clear message to would be cheaters that the U.S. government is prepared to punish those that knowingly defy their very clear trade orders. “This is an important wake up call to all who think they can outsmart the system. The U.S. judicial system has demonstrated that they will levy heavy fines, and now imprisonment, to those caught and convicted of schemes to evade trade duties. The AEC thanks Federal Judge Francisco Besosa for his courage in making such a strong statement in his ruling. A special thanks also goes out to Lausell Del Caribe for their commitment to see this case brought to justice.