NC firm fined $12.6M for alleged trade violations

NEW BERN, N.C. — The successor company of a North Carolina criminal investigation supply firm must pay $12.6 million in response to accusations that the former president violated his previous plea agreement for illegally trading with China.

A federal district judge in New Bern accepted on Tuesday a deferred prosecution agreement for Sirchie Acquisition Company. In exchange, federal attorneys won’t pursue a 10-count criminal information unsealed against Sirchie.

The government alleged the president of what previously was known as Sirchie Fingerprint Laboratories didn’t comply with the terms of his 2005 plea barring him from regulated overseas commerce for five years. Prosecutors say evidence shows the president had participated in setting prices for products intended to be sold overseas. Sirchie’s new owners weren’t involved in the trade activity.

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