Dartmouth store owner charged for falsifying documents and undervaluing shipments

News Release

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that on July 21, 2016, Kelly Elizabeth Wall, of Bedford, Nova Scotia, pled guilty in Dartmouth Provincial Court to two charges under the Customs Act. One charge was under section 12(1) for non-report and one under section 153(a) for making false statements.  

A CBSA investigation determined that between May 2008 and July 2014, Kelly Wall undervalued 32 commercial shipments to her store “Encore Décor Ltd” in Dartmouth which imported and sold household accessories such as bedding and curtains. Wall used fictitious invoices to account for less cargo than was imported and undervalued the cargo that was being reported. The total undervaluation was $340,882.73.  It is also alleged that on 16 of the importations Wall forged the CBSA Cargo Control Documents by changing the number of pallets and weight to a lesser quantity to better match the invoices.

 

Wall was sentenced to a fine of $15,000 on each count ($30,000 in total) and is required to amend 32 commercial accounting documents which will recover approximately $77,000 in evaded duty and taxes.

 

Quick Facts

• All commercial goods must be reported to the CBSA whether you transport it yourself or have a carrier transport it for you.
• All goods entering Canada, regardless of mode, must be reported to the CBSA and may be subject to a more in-depth exam.
• Failure to declare goods and other Customs Act violations may lead to seizure and/or prosecution in a court of law.

 

Quotes

 “Every importer is required to accurately report all goods being imported into Canada.  The Canada Border Services Agency will continue to prosecute those who purposely evade duties and taxes. ”
- Gina Kennedy, Acting Director, Enforcement and Intelligence Division, Atlantic Region

 

Associated Links 

Checklist for Importing Commercial Goods into Canada
Duty and Taxes Estimator
Be Ready – Become a BSO

 

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Contact

CBSA Atlantic Region Communications
902-426-0900

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