In a Criminal Enforcement Agreement with the Department of Justice, Gibson Guitar Company today acknowledged responsibility for importing illegal wood into the United States and incurred penalties totaling a minimum of $600,000, including the forfeiture of wood taken from the protected forests of Madagascar.

The settlement announced by the U.S. Department of Justice and Gibson Guitar regarding imported Indian guitar blanks makes clear the need for clarification of the Lacey Act’s scope and has strengthened our resolve to work with Congress to develop a practical and targeted solution to the Lacey Act’s unintended consequences.

CEO Henry Juszkiewicz said Gibson Guitar was compelled to settle with the Department of Justice on Lacey Act violations.

Gibson Guitar Corp. will not face prosecution for violating the Lacey Act and has instead entered into a criminal enforcement agreement with the United States.

Gibson Guitar Corp. entered into a criminal enforcement agreement with the United States today resolving a criminal investigation into allegations that the company violated the Lacey Act by illegally purchasing and importing ebony wood from Madagascar and rosewood and ebony from India.

As forest products companies in the great Commonwealth of Virginia we stand united in our support of the Lacey Act and all that it has accomplished in addressing the issue of illegal logging worldwide since passage of the 2008 amendments.

he Hardwood Federation, a public policy advocacy group for the hardwood industry, recently named Dana Lee Cole as its third executive director.

By a 25-19 decision, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to amend the Lacey Act. The amendment, H.R. 3210, the “Retailers and Entertainers Lacey Implementation and Enforcement Fairness Act” (RELIEF Act), is now scheduled for a full House vote in July.

The National Retail Federation said it has joined with groups asking Congress to review and revise Lacey Act rules regarding the importation of wood products and plant material.