Gibson Guitar Fined Over Lacey Act Violation

Washington, DC, Aug. 7, 2012 -- Gibson Guitar Corp. of Nashville, Tennessee will pay a fine of $300,000 for violation of the U.S. Lacey Act.

The company settled with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations that it imported ebony wood from Madagascar and rosewood and ebony from India.

Since May 2008, it has been illegal under the Lacey Act to import into the United States plants and plant products (including wood) that have been harvested and exported in violation of the laws of another country. 

The agreement defers prosecution for criminal violations of the Lacey Act. It also requires a "community service" payment of $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to be used to promote the conservation, identification and propagation of protected tree species used in the musical instrument industry and the forests where those species are found.

Gibson will also withdraw its claims to the wood seized in the course of the criminal investigation, including Madagascar ebony from shipments with a total invoice value of $261,844, according to a government press release.

“As a result of this investigation and criminal enforcement agreement, Gibson has acknowledged that it failed to act on information that the Madagascar ebony it was purchasing may have violated laws intended to limit overharvesting and conserve valuable wood species from Madagascar, a country which has been severely impacted by deforestation,” said Assistant Attorney General Moreno.