- Gibson Guitar's manufacturing plants in Memphis (shown) and Nashville were raided Wednesday, August 24, by federal agents. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent told the Tennessean the raid related to a Texas case, but declined to elaborate.
Gibson CEO Henry E. Juszkiewicz said the raid was unfounded, and issued a statement decrying the raid and explaining the FSC sourcing of Gibson Guitar's wood.
In November 2009, Gibson's operations in Nashville were raided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as part of an ongoing investigation for alleged violations of the Lacey Act. Agents seized ebony wood in various forms deemed illegal under the Lacey Act. In a lawsuit filed in 2009, the U.S. Attorneyâs office for Middle Tennessee sought forfeiture of six guitars built with the ebony.
Gibson moved its world headquarters to Nashville in 1984 when it closed its Kalamazoo, MI plant. Its Nashville plant was built in 1974 specifically for the production of Gibson's Les Paul guitars. Gibson said last fall it was developing a new manufacturing division.
Update: Fed raid Gibson Guitar plants unfair - CEO
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