Italian national ClaudioFogale,charged inanalleged$86million customsdutyand tariff evasion scheme,hasbeenreleased onbailfollowinganapplicationfiled infederalcourt byhis attorney, Anthony J. Mahajan of Health Law Alliance.
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Fogalehadbeendetained fornearlyonemonthonaccusationsconnectedtoUBS Gold, an Indonesian-based jewelry company that federal prosecutors say used Jordanian shipping channels toavoiddutiesandtariffs onmorethan$1.2billion injewelryimports. Thechargesagainst Fogalecarrya maximum sentence of 20 years' incarceration.
Callingtheevidenceagainst Fogale”thin, at best,”Mahajan argued that county-of-origin rules are complex and often the subject of “workarounds,” which are not illegal. For example, the Criminal Complaint itself concedes that county-of-origin designations often turn on nuanced questions relating to “substantial transformation” of finished products. Indeed, the Complaint further admits that a customs official opined that the tariff “workaround” appeared to be “treading on thin ice,” not that it was outright unlawful.
“Mr.Fogale isnocriminal,butrather thevictimofanincompleteinvestigationthatwas announced to much fanfare by a since-disqualified acting U.S. Attorney whose fleeting appointment was unlawful from inception,” said Mahajan.
InAugust2025theDepartmentofJusticeannounced across-agencyTrade Fraud Task Forceto advance President Trump's “America First Trade Policy” through increased enforcement of customs laws through duty and penalty collection actions, civil actions under the False Claims Act, and criminal prosecution.
HealthLawAlliancerepresentsFogaleaspartofitsexpandingfederal trade,customs,andtariff defense practice.
Formoreinformation,contactHealthLawAllianceat(800)345-4125orinfo@healthlawalliance.com.
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SOURCE Health Law Alliance
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