An east bay man pleaded guilty to smuggling illegal headlights into the United States, U.S. Attorney David Anderson announced.
Chu-Chiang Ho, also known as Kevin Ho, 44, pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally importing high-intensity automobile headlights that failed to meet U.S. safety standards.
He admitted he has known since 2005 the headlights and other headlight kit parts he had been importing from China were illegal but continued to smuggle the items into the U.S. and sell them on a website for more than 13 years.
Ho also admitted that at least $1.7 million in sales proceeds from his business came from products that were illegally smuggled into the country.
He was indicted in 2019 on seven counts of smuggling illegal headlights and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count. The remaining counts will be dismissed if he complies with his plea agreement, prosecutors said.
As part of his agreement, Ho will forfeit at least $1.7 million in criminal proceeds and all of the property smuggled into the country. The maximum penalty for the violation is a sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
I had illegal headlights on a AH Sprite back in the 1970s Extra bright and people kept flashing their high beams at me. I aimed them as low as possible to minimize it, but some were still bothered by them.
Seriously! 20 years. I would hope not. Yeah what he did was wrong but 20 years of jail time would not be an equivalent punishment for the crime committed. 20 years is way too long.
Its also due to it being a federal offenceLisa, But I agree with you Lisa. But in a federal offence you get more time in in prison than the others who get arrested and charged with a regular old crime. Fed’s don’t mess around
Please sign the petition, I’m sorry…..but when you see a 25 year old vehicle with either all four lights on or blinding headlights = it’s been illegally modified.
https://www.change.org/p/u-s-dot-ban-blinding-headlights-and-save-lives
So, you want to ban illegal headlights? I’m pretty sure they’re already banned.
If you’re talking about factory HID or LED lights, they have a very sharp cutoff, specifically so they are NOT blinding to oncoming drivers, while still providing improved light output.
I wonder how many accidents have been prevented by technological advancements in vehicle lighting. Probably quite a few more than have been caused by them.
Putting LED bulbs in non-projector reflector style housings does not have a sharp cut off, but scattered and blinding light.
How many accidents have BEEN CAUSED by blinding oncoming drivers?
And those dumbazz Ford F250 F350 with the Four full time headlamps always on, I disabled mine due to too many people flashing me.
Driving to work when it’s dark and very early I’d say allot of ’em were sold in our area. Have taken to wearing baseball cap with left side pulled down a bit to block oncoming vehicle headlights.
This story sheds a light on his crimes.
You guys make jokes but headlight addiction is quickly becoming a serious crisis in this country.
Who made a joke?
Who knows what else he was smuggling? Twenty years sounds good to me.
@Ricardoh “ Come on man.”
They are letting killers out in 7 years, Vincent lising-Campos.
Let the headlight guy out on probation. They just wanted his money. Someone has to pay for the welfare folks. With Tesla and Oracle moving we are going to feel much harder pinch. Thank you Democrat’s.
Darwin
If they are letting murders out in seven years that is a different problem. This guy has been a smuggler for fifteen years. I doubt if headlights are the only thing he is smuggling. 1.7 million in headlights. Give me a break.
@Ricardoh
I’m sure they investigated him thoroughly, looking to charge him anything and everything. I wonder if he payed taxes on the 1.7 million?
Ricardoh don’t assume he has been smuggling other stuff without proof. Because when you assume you make an Ass out of U and Me. Who would you rather have out in seven years???
The California legal system caters to violent criminals. We do have big problems. Keep voting democrat and this is what you get.
Will the big guy have to forfeit his cut? Asking for a friend.
Can this guy get me some old school light bulbs for my house?
Check dollar stores. Sometimes they’ll have them.
All he had to do was run for a Senate or Congressional seat then he can get money from Chinese Government instead of smuggling just like so many Democrat politicians and Rino Republicans have. All he needs is Fang Fang.
Hey Eastbay Babe,
Careful, I’m a proud Rino, pro-choice.
108RS
Never heard of illegal headlights. Do you know how many people buy things in bulk from China online and re sell them in the US? Ever hear of Alibaba?
Now let’s go after the local vechile window tinting shops. Nothing like a vechile with tinted window’s to make woman feel safe when walking by one of these cars. Oh I know it looks so nice. Then let’s go after the noise and air polluters who modify their EXHAUSTS. Little boys who want attention. You want to play race car driver take it to the track. So many tools.
Absolutely, the fully Tinted Windshields have gotten out of hand Quick! Concord PD agreed with me but claims to not have enough Officers to do anything about it.
I used to get fix-it tickets all the time for my loud exhaust.
Cherry Bombs on a GTO less than a week. Two tickets from 2 agencies!
Tinted windows are legal in Cal. if you have a prescription because of sensitive eyes. And there is no problem getting one just like one for pot.
Not talking about windows. WINDSHIELDS….when you’re at a 4 way stop and you can’t see the driver across the way from you….of course Nobody uses a turn signal.
Guarantee you these cars I’m seeing do not have a prescription. Give me a break.
FPN,
Let’s leave the local window tinting and muffler shops out this discussion; for, they are just businesses trying to survive. However, responsibility should fall on the vehicle owners, and whether or not “They” drive like A-holes. I don’t care if people modify their cars, as long as the car doesn’t fall apart on the freeway and cause a pile-up. A lot of us (myself included) drive so called “modified” cars without any problems, because we play it cool.
Tinted windows (especially at night) can be hard to see out of, and I prefer clear and very clean windows all the way.
@Anon. Totally agree with you. Any vehicle on public roads needs to have the driver reasonably visible so that other drivers can visually communicate with them. There is a strong individualist and anti-social mentality to a lot of drivers, which usually is fine, but as in the example you gave of a four-way stop, real-time visual communication with other drivers in essential to preventing collisions. That’s a basic Driver’s Ed concept.
Of all the vehicle code stuff police don’t bother enforcing anymore, this one surprises me the most. I thought cops were big on situational awareness, scanning for persons of interest, being able to see the hands of the person they just pulled over, etc.
wait so why is a man bringing in Chinese goods illegaly all of a sudden a bad thing
and yeah dude if you were a full fledged democrat
you would have smuggled people and children for the politicians and never had a problem
he must be a legal american citizen …..enemy number 1 now a days
so sorry dude …..blame the college kids for being easily manipulated and allowing anarchy of our voting system
How about that, only took 14 years for authorities to see the light . . .
@Aunt Barbara…He probably had leaf blowers in the bed of his truck too.
Aunt Barbara giving someone the finger? That’s not very ladylike.
Best thing always have enough time to never be in a hurry, slow down, an let ’em into pass. Then again at 4:30 am there’s not all that much traffic.
I used to date a girl with headlights that were probably illegal……
@Aunt Barbara….Why didn’t you just turn your turn signal on and change lanes? Neither of us would have gotten so pissed off….GEEZ, how hard is that?
Imagine making yourself a Felon over headlights. Hahaaaa