A Lynnwood electronics company, its owner and two company executives, and a Chinese company and its representative were indicted for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods on Jan. 17 in U.S. District Court in Seattle,  U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced.

According to the indictment, CONNECTZONE.COM LLC had websites that advertised and sold computer networking products including products bearing trademarks owned by U.S. companies Cisco, but the investigation revealed the company obtained its products from multiple foreign suppliers of counterfeit goods including a Chinese firm, XIEWEI ELECTRONICS.

Three of the individuals charged will appear in court Jan. 18. The CONNECTZONE.COM LLC defendants include: DANIEL OBERHOLTZER, 50, of Lynnwood, the company owner; WARREN LANCE WILDER, 46, of Auburn, the sales manager; and EDWARD VALES, 31, of Seattle, the production manager. SHENZHEN XIEWEI ELECTRONIC LTD, headquartered in Shanghai, China and its representative MAO MANG, aka “BOB MAO” are also indicted.

The indictment alleges that as early as 1997, while the company was operating as Electro Products, Incorporated, it was distributing counterfeit equipment manufactured in China.

Conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods is punishable by up to 10years in prison and a $2 million fine; Mail fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and trafficking in counterfeit goods is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.