I-Net Distributors Busted!

Being involved in the speed counter measurement industry for over ten years, I am still amazed on the ever increasing volume of black market/gray market goods that have been invading the radar detector marketplace and how they have been negatively impacting the consumer and the manufactures.
When I managed the RadarBusters website I would be flooded with inquires by shoppers asking why they should pay full retail for a product when they found the same exact item on Ebay or Buy.com for hundreds of dollars less. I would try to explain to these customers that the sellers of those devices were not factory authorized and often sold items that were remanufactured, obtained through illegal channels, stolen or even counterfeit and if they had a problem with the product the manufacturer’s warranty wouldn’t apply.
A few shoppers heeded my advise after I shown them photos of radar detectors that had been purchased from unscrupulous retails with counterfeit serial numbers and provided them with recorded documentation from an Overstock.com employee admitting that the Escort and Beltronics radar detectors that they sold were NOT NEW UNITS and only had a 30 day warranty and that if the customer purchased their “Planinum Protection Plan” for their one year warranty, their total price was $10.00 more for a used unit, then a new factory unit with the same warranty from an authorized dealer!
But a number of the shoppers fell for the scam finding out later that $100.00 they thought they saved only brought them grief finding out that the detector/laser jammer had no warranty and was now worthless as a brick on their dashboard.
During the 2007 SEMA show in Las Vegas I heard rumblings of a joint Escort, Beltronics and FBI investigation targeting perhaps the largest unauthorized dealer on Ebay; I-Net Distributors.
I heard horror stories from many of their past clients that had come to me after purchasing a product finding that the item either had no serial number or the serial number that was on the product was counterfeit. As the matter was still under investigation neither officials from Beltronics or Escort would comment. However I knew that one of my “super sleuth investigators” on RadarDetector.net would do me proud and locate the official documents from the Federal Courts once they were made public.
Today “The Professor” located the United States District Court Complaint 07-2440 JWL filed by Beltronics USA, Inc. against Mr. Steve Web, Mr. Kevin Burke and their associated companies; I-Net Distributors, Midwest Inventory and Audio Video Man all located in Overland Park, KS.
The three part complaint alleges that the accused parties obtained their radar detectors through a false designation of origin, violated the Beltronics Federal Trademark through counterfeiting, and violated Kansas and Ohio State laws by illegally removing the official Beltronics serial number and FCC certification and replacing it with counterfeit serial numbers and FCC certification.
I applaud the Beltronics and Escort staff for their hard work in this investigation that I feel that will ultimately be a win not only for their company but also for the uneducated consumer that have fallen victim to scams by these black marketers.

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