Miami CEO Sentenced to Prison for Selling Counterfeit Cisco Equipment
Miami CEO Sentenced to Prison for Selling Counterfeit Cisco Equipment
Miami-based tech CEO Onur Aksoy, also known as Ron Aksoy and Dave Durden, has been sentenced to over six years in prison for orchestrating a large-scale operation selling counterfeit Cisco equipment. Aksoy pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud after operating through 19 companies and online storefronts from 2013 to 2022, reselling fake Cisco products with an estimated retail value exceeding USD 1 billion.
Collectively known as Pro Network Entities, Aksoy’s entities sold counterfeit networking products on platforms like Amazon and eBay, infiltrating both private and public sectors. The counterfeit equipment infiltrated critical infrastructure, compromising sensitive U.S. government systems used by the Navy, Air Force, and Army, jeopardizing operations for fighter jets, bombers, helicopters, and maritime patrol aircraft. Schools and hospitals were also unknowingly affected by malfunctioning equipment.
Despite orders to cease operations and seizures of counterfeit shipments, Aksoy continued the scheme with the aid of Chinese suppliers who modified used Cisco products to appear legitimate. U.S. attorney Vikas Khanna highlighted the enormity of the operation and its potential harm, aiming to hold Aksoy accountable for the “breathtaking scale” of the counterfeit scheme.
Cisco has faced challenges in recent years due to supply chain disruptions, making it more susceptible to counterfeit activity. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in detecting and preventing fraudulent schemes in the tech industry.