U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe | U.S. Department of Justice
Hector Samuel Esquijerosa, a Miami resident, has pled guilty to his involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States by using false and fraudulent invoices presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This plea was made today as part of ongoing legal proceedings.
Esquijerosa, aged 52, admitted in court that he worked with others, including brokers and suppliers from China, Canada, and the United Kingdom, to evade tariffs on truck tires manufactured in China. His companies, Production Tire Company and Premier Trade Corporation, were involved in importing these tires into the United States between September 2018 and January 2023.
To disguise the origin of the Chinese-made truck tires, Esquijerosa's group transshipped them through countries like Canada and Malaysia before entering the U.S. They submitted documents to CBP falsely indicating that these tires originated elsewhere. The group also created two sets of invoices—one undervalued for CBP duty calculations and another reflecting the actual value. This scheme led to over $1.9 million in lost revenue for the U.S.
Esquijerosa faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2025. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider various guidelines and statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by HSI Miami with help from CBP’s Automotive and Aerospace Center of Excellence and Expertise. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aimee Jimenez is prosecuting the case while Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken handles asset forfeiture.
Further information about this case can be found on the Southern District of Florida's court website or through their online portal under case number 24-cr-20436.
