Florida man admits to smuggling Chinese-made truck tires into the U.S., evading nearly $2 million in import duties

A Miami resident pleaded guilty in connection to a scheme to illegally import Chinese-made truck tires into the U.S.

On December 6, Hector Samuel Esquijerosa, 52, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against Customs and Border Protection, according the the U.S. Department of Justice. The charge carries a possible prison sentence up to five years.

Esquijerosa operated Miami-based companies Production Tire Company and Premier Trade Corporation, which specialized in importing truck tires into the U.S.

Officials say that Esquijerosa admitted to conspiring with brokers, suppliers, and wholesalers in China, Canada, and the United Kingdom to evade anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese-made truck tires. To conceal the origin on the tires, the conspirators reportedly shipped them through third countries, including Canada and Malaysia.

Additionally, federal authorities say that Esquijerosa and his co-conspirators submitted false invoices to U.S. Customs and Border Protection in order to misrepresented the country of origin and undervalued the tires, reducing the amount of import duties owed.

The scheme cost the U.S. government $1.9 million in lost revenue.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 2025.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Miami.