Security News > 2024 > May > CEO who sold fake Cisco devices to US military gets 6 years in prison

Onur Aksoy, the CEO of a group of companies controlling multiple online storefronts, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for selling $100 million worth of counterfeit Cisco network equipment to government, health, education, and military organizations worldwide.

These devices all had "Counterfeit Cisco labels, stickers, boxes, documentation, and packaging, all bearing counterfeit trademarks registered and owned by Cisco that made the goods falsely appear to be new, genuine, and high-quality devices manufactured and authorized by Cisco."

The indictment states that the counterfeit Cisco products were sold as new and genuine devices on Amazon and eBay to customers in the United States and overseas, with many ending in the networks of hospitals, schools, government agencies, and even the U.S. military.

The devices sold by Pro Network Entities came with performance, functionality, and safety issues because they were instead older models modified to look like newer and more expensive genuine devices.

"In July 2021, agents executed a search warrant at Aksoy's warehouse that led to the seizure of approximately 1,156 counterfeit Cisco devices with a retail value of over $7 million."

CEO charged with sale of counterfeit Cisco devices to govt, health orgs.

News URL

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ceo-who-sold-fake-cisco-devices-to-us-military-gets-6-years-in-prison/