Chinese national pleads guilty to smuggling counterfeit Apple products

Jianhua “Jeff” Li had received payments totaling over $1.1 million in sales proceeds from his participation in a scheme to smuggle counterfeit Apple iPhones and iPads from China into the United States.    Jianhua “Jeff” Li, a 43-year-old Chinese national living in the United States on a student visa, pleaded guilty in a New Jersey district court Friday to his participation in a scheme to smuggle counterfeit Apple iPhones and iPads from China into the United States, the Justice Department said.
   From July 2009 through February 2014, Li and his company Dream Digitals conspired with Andreina Becerra, Roberto Volpe, Rosario LaMarca, and others to smuggle over 40,000 counterfeit electronic devices and accessories, along with labels and packaging bearing counterfeit Apple trademarks.
   The Justice Department said Li received payments totaling over $1.1 million in sales proceeds.
   Becerra, Volpe and LaMarca have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. LaMarca was sentenced on July 20 to 37 months in prison, and Becerra and Volpe are awaiting sentencing. Li will be sentenced on May 30.