Gibson Guitar Settles Claim Over Imported Wood

[reflection]

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/gibson-guitar-settles-claim-over-imported-ebony/

Gibson Guitar Corporation has agreed to pay $350,000 in penalties to settle Federal charges that it illegally imported ebony Madagascar to use for fret boards, ending a criminal investigation that had drawn fire from conservatives as an example of over-reaching by the government, the Justice Department announced on Monday.

The guitar maker agreed to pay a $300,000 fine and to donate $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to promote the protection of endangered hardwood trees, like ebony and rosewood. In return, the government deferred prosecution of the company for criminal violations of the Lacey Act, which since May 2008 has made it illegal to import wood that was harvested and exported illegally under another country’s laws.

“Gibson has acknowledged that it failed to act on information that the Madagascar ebony it was purchasing may have violated laws intended to limit over-harvesting and conserve valuable wood species from Madagascar, a country which has been severely impacted by deforestration,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, an assistant attorney general.

Henry E. Juszkiewicz, Gibson’s chief executive, who last year called the charges “baloney,” did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.

The Tealiban were frothing at their mouths when this story first broke. Wonder what they'll say now. Let me guess, it will be a conspiracy of some sort...

[Lint Head]

1. Considering Gibson charges $3,000 on the average for each guitar it sells this is chump change.

[dionysus]

3. i always wanted an SG... their prices are nuts...

[opiate69]

6. should be able to pick up a nice SG Special or Standard for under $1k

[whatchamacallit]

2. Talk about a slap on the wrist

They should be severely fined, both for the endangered wood and for churning out such poorly crafted shit for the last 20 years.

[amerciti001]

4. Really I prefer Guild guitars

One piece constrution, no bolt on necks...

[rppper]

5. If I'm spending 3 G's on an instrument....

It'll be this beast.....

[spanone]

7. so marsha blackburn pals around with criminals????

The CEO of embattled Gibson Guitar will be the special guest of the leader of Capitol Hill’s Songwriters Caucus at the President’s speech to Congress on jobs tonight.

Rep. Marsha E. Blackburn (R- Tenn.) invited Gibson’s Henry E. Juszkiewicz as a gesture of support to her longtime friend and constituent, said Michael Reynard, her press secretary.

Blackburn, who plays both the guitar and the ukulele, founded the Songwriters Caucus in 2003 as a vehicle to promote her state’s music industry and protect creative property, Reynard said.

When House Speaker John A. Boehner (R.-Ohio) heard that Juszkiewicz would be in Washington, he contacted the congresswoman’s office and invited him to watch the speech from the speaker’s box in the House gallery, Reynard said. Before the speech, Blackburn said, she will escort the guitar executive through the halls of the Capitol to meet Congress members and other business-leader guests of the speaker.

http://www.humanevents.com/2011/09/08/gibson-guitar-ceo-to-be-honored-guest-at-obama-speech/