Gaithersburg Man Convicted of Fraud in VA

A Federal jury in Virginia yesterday found a Gaithersburg man guilty of fraud for swapping counterfeit products for real products, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Virginia.

Iheanyi Frank Chinasa, 39, of Gaithersburg, was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction, wire fraud and eight counts of mail fraud, and will be sentenced on May 5.

He faces up to 220 years in prison.

“Any attempt to defraud a company of millions in assets must face serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride.

Chinasa was indicted in June with Robert Kendrick Chambliss, 30, of Henrico, Va.

"Chinasa manufactured counterfeit computer networking and telecommunications equipment," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "Chinasa or Chambliss would then contact Cisco, falsely claiming that they were having trouble with a Cisco product covered by a warranty.  Cisco would issue replacement parts, but its warranty required return of the allegedly defective product.  Chinasa and Chambliss would send counterfeit product to Cisco to satisfy the return policy."

Chinasa defrauded Cisco of more than $27 million in computer equipment

Inforation on Chambliss's case was not immediately available.