Counterfeit business part of a global problem

By Anna Tataris, Reporter Last Updated: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 PINELLAS COUNTY -- Counterfeit electronics have become a big business and a dangerous one, according to the federal government. On Tuesday, several federal agencies raided Vision Tech Components in Pinellas Park. Shannon Wren, 42, and 38-year old Stephanie McCloskey were arrested on conspiracy, trafficking counterfeit goods and mail fraud charges. The U.S. Department of Justice say they were counterfeiting integrated circuits from China and Hong Kong. The Feds say the counterfeit circuits were then sold to the U.S. Navy and Defense Contractors. The U.S. Department of Justice says they pose a risk because it's unknown whether the parts will fail. It's a global problem according to the CEO of Equality Process, a company based in Largo that inspects circuits and tests for fraudulent devices. "What's happening is they are reclaiming old material from printed circuit boards," said Equality Process CEO Craig Zurman. Zurman says the old materials are coming from Asia. "Some of this material may function today," said Zurman, "but in the future they have a great concern that the material due to lack of chain of custody of where the material came from that it would fail." Integrated circuits are used in anything ranging from airplanes to medical devices. "They could be used in radar systems, they could be used in a missile guidance system," said John Robinson, who inspects circuits." Pretty much anything military or commercial that would use this type of circuitry." Wren will appear in federal court on Thursday. McCloskey bonded out of jail, but did not answer the door at her Clearwater home.