On July 15, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina announced that it had intervened in a case brought under the False Claims Act (FCA)’s qui tam (whistleblower) provisions. The lawsuit was filed against Global Office Furniture, a Myrtle Beach-based office furniture supplier which, according to the government’s press release, imports and sells office furniture that is manufactured in China.
The government allegs that Global engaged in a scheme to avoid custom duties that were owed to the United States by employing an unlawful “double-invoicing scheme,” where Global would submit false entry summaries and invoices to U.S. Customs that undervalued important office chairs. The government also alleges that Global “undertook efforts to destroy evidence” after they were informed of the government’s investigation.
This case follows guidance from the DOJ that duty-avoidance and other customs fraud schemes will continue to be a high priority for the DOJ under the Trump Administration. (We wrote on the topic back in February, March, and May 2025.)
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The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman represent businesses and individuals in connection with False Claims Act investigations and litigation. If you need assistance with such a matter, contact us today.