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Gibson Guitars awaits charges 3 years after government raid

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    Wood imports suspected to be illegal taken from Gibson Guitars

  • Duration 2:24
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It was seven months ago the federal agents with guns drawn raided Gibson -- seizing food from India used to make French -- The government claimed that what was imported illegally yet still.

No sign that the Department of Justice will file criminal charges.

Gibson CEO Henry -- which says federal authorities have his company in limbo while were waving -- even get charged.

They have taken very aggressive action that is hurt our company's significant.

What's more it's been nearly three years since another raided Gibson.

That time it was what -- Madagascar are that we see.

No charges from that -- yet either.

Michael Mukasey for attorney general in the Bush Administration says the case and the delay for absurd.

Certainly.

Three years since the 2000 non raid and even.

Going on a year since the 2011 right.

It is more than enough time this is not this is not -- searcher.

Neither the DOJ -- Fish and Wildlife Service which carried out the rates would comment on the investigation or why it has taken so long.

But in the case of the Indian would at least the argument is simply over how much work was done overseas.

The government argued that because this -- was only roughly cut to size and not finish like this it was illegal to export from India.

But the Indian government is happy to export this -- and calling it a finished musical instrument part.

Republicans even some Democrats say it's a clear case of government overreach.

This is basically a high profile demonstration that the Obama administration has released the regulatory and enforcement dogs on the American people -- -- American businesses.

While the criminal investigation drags on the DOJ has blocked -- to the civil suit to get -- would back.

And since it can't afford any more wood from India for fear of being raided again.

Gibson is forced to use alternatives even composite materials its purest customers might reject outright.

In sort of competitive disadvantage.

Long term.

You know our business will suffering.

And possibly quite severely.

Some former federal prosecutors that -- doctors say it's not unusual for a case to go on many months between an enforcement action in a decision on whether to file charges.

But even they say three years is an awfully long time.

In Atlanta John Roberts Fox News.

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