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*U.S. Department of Justice*
/United States Attorney/
/District of Hawaii/
/ PJKK Federal Building/
/300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 6-100/
/Honolulu, Hawaii 96850/
/Telephone: (808) 541-2850/
/ Fax: (808) 541-2958/
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*Press Release*
*For Immediate Release*
*December 9, 1999*
*KENT AOKI LEE CHARGED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURY*
*WITH WIRE FRAUD, TRADEMARK VIOLATIONS,*
*AND SELLING VIAGRA OVER THE INTERNET*
*WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION*
*(DECEMBER 9, 1999)*
A federal grand jury today charged KENT AOKI LEE with wire fraud and
trademark violations growing out of his operation of a pirated
Internet website, and with selling Viagra over the Internet without
a prescription.
Lee, 37, of Honolulu, was charged with copying the authorized
website of the Honolulu Marathon Association, a non-profit
organization which organizes the annual marathon. According to U.S.
Attorney Steven Alm, the Honolulu Marathon Association maintains an
authorized website at "www.honolulumarathon.org," which provides
race information and history, and allows residents of the United
States to register for the race on-line. Residents of Japan,
however, are directed to register for the race at an office which
the Honolulu Marathon Association maintains in Japan.
The indictment charges that Lee copied the authorized website and
created his own website at "www.honolulumarathon.com." Lee included
the "Honolulu Marathon" tradename and the King's Runner logo, both
of which are registered trademarks of the Honolulu Marathon
Association.
According to the indictment, Lee claimed the pirated website was the
official Honolulu Marathon website, and included a Japanese language
section which claimed to offer Japanese runners the chance to
register on-line. The pirated website charged a registration fee of
$165 -- $100 more than the true registration fee -- and offered to
provide runners with a course tour, transportation and a pre-race meal.
The indictment alleges that fourteen persons in Japan sent e-mails
to Lee as a result of his actions.
Lee was also charged with selling these services through the use of
counterfeit marks which he copied from the authorized website. The
pirated website was taken off-line as a result of the federal
investigation.
The indictment also charges that Lee operated a separate website
where he sold Viagra over the Internet without a prescription.
The indictment is just an accusation, and Lee is presumed innocent
until proven guilty. He will appear in federal court for an
arraignment and plea, and a trial date will be set.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Tong.
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