Houston pipe companies face penalties for not cooperating with federal investigation

HOUSTON, TX -- A civil action has been filed against MC Tubular Products and Metal One America for failing to comply with a federal summons, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

MC Tubular Products is a supplier of industrial pipe products used in the oil and gas industry. The company is a subsidiary of Metal One Holdings America, which sources materials, handles logistics and provides import/export management, trade finance, credit and risk management.

MC Tubular Products allegedly made misrepresentations to avoid paying more than $10 million in antidumping duties on metal pipe imported from Japan. As part of the investigation, they were issued a summons compelling the companies to produce documents which are expected to show whether either acted improperly, according to the filing in federal court today.

However, the allegations indicate they did not comply and failed to produce the required documents by the deadline.

Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection are conducting the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Kincheloe is handling the matter in coordination with the Civil Division’s National Courts Section.

The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability