Source: guardian.co.uk.com
Gibson Guitars is under investigation for alleged use of smuggled wood. US federal agents raided a Gibson factory on Tuesday, claiming that they may have used illegal rosewood to make their guitars.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service seized wood, computers, files and guitars from Gibson’s Massman Road manufacturing facility in Nashville, Tennessee. They are seeking evidence that Gibson shipped illegal rosewood from Madagascar via Germany.
Rosewood is expensive – more than double the cost of mahogany – and a crucial component in many guitars. Even at £3,000 per cubic metre, it can be found in acoustic guitar bodies and fingerboards. The troubled east African island of Madagascar, is a prime exporter of the hardwood. But due to corruption and environmental issues, Madagascan rosewood is a dubious proposition, and America’s Lacey Act bars firms from bringing it into the US.
Gibson promised that they are “fully co-operating” with the federal investigation. “Gibson is a chain of custody certified buyers that purchases wood from legal suppliers who are to follow all standards,” the company said. Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz sits on the board of the Rainforest Alliance, which lobbies for sustainable forestry.
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Do you have any updates on the Gibson Investigation or contacts for the investigators?
They WILL lie to federal authorities. I have proof the two owners of Gibson Guitar, Henry Juszkiewicz and David Berryman Suborned Perjury and paid their former General Counsel, Barbara O’Connell, to lie in a lawsuit I have against them.
Here’s a News Tip, the former Senior Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel of Gibson Guitar, Barbara O’Connell was NOT a Tennessee Attorney, was NOT authorized by the Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Law Examiners to practice law as a General Counsel pursuant to Comfy, as required by Tennessee Law, and at all times in her employment with Gibson was engaged in the Unauthorized practice of law.
Barbara O’Connell is now in Georgia with the Southwire Corporation.
I am in the process of getting Federal Charges against them for Mail Fraud and the Subornation of Aggravated Perjury. Check out my website in about a week when it will be completed. Substantial evidence will be posted their including a Petition for a Federal Investigation of Gibson for Mail Fraud. There will also be a contest and FREE advertising materials. http://www.LyingScumbags.Com .
I gave Tennessee Prosecutors substantial evidence of Aggravated Perjury by Barbara O’Connell, and the Subornation of Aggravated Perjury by the CEO of Gibson Guitar, Henry Juszkiewicz and Gibson President, David Berryman Either Tennessee will prosecute and not let them get away with these felonies because they are rich, and very well “connected” in Nashville, or I will file a Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit against the prosecutor, and get an Injunction, or Mandamus, to require “Equal Protection of the Law”, as a victim.
Thanks and I greatly appreciate any information you might have,
Billy Ray Kidwell
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