This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
On April 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was sweeping the United States, and medical personnel were in dire need of protective gear. However, a Chinese company, King Year Packaging and Printing, had other plans.
According to a complaint filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, the company shipped three batches of purported N95 masks to US buyers, claiming they met the N95 standard and were certified by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
But the masks were fake, and the company's claims were false. The importer of the masks paid over $1 million for them, unaware of the substandard equipment they were receiving.
"The charges alleged in this complaint show a blatant disregard for the safety of American citizens," said FBI agent Douglas Korneski, who investigated the masks deal.
"Had it not been for the actions of the investigative team, this defendant would have put first responders, hospital employees, and other front-line workers directly in harm's way with faulty equipment just to make a buck," he added.
The Chinese company was charged with four counts of importing misbranded and substandard health products and making false claims to the US Food and Drug Administration. Each charge carries a maximum fine of $500,000, or if greater, twice what the company earned in selling the masks.
