United States v. Shabbir

MEMORANDUM

DAVIS, District Judge.

On September 24, 1998, a grand jury returned an indictment against defendant Qaiser Shabbir on the following counts: Conspiracy to Defraud the Government, 18 U.S.C. § 371; Smuggling, 18 U.S.C. § 545; Making False Statements in Connection with Imports, 18 U.S.C. § 542; and Delivering Misbranded Items, 21 U.S.C. §§ 331, 333. These charges arise from Shabbir’s alleged participation in a scheme to import surgical instruments into the United States under a false designation of the country of origin — that of France or Italy, rather than Pakistan, where he actually…