Yacht broker convicted of customs fraud in US import scam

A yacht sales agent has been convicted of customs fraud by the Paris criminal court in a case  involving the import of a high-speed boat from the United States (US).

The French national, who is a director of a Miami-based yacht brokerage company, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a two-month suspended prison term and a €20,000 fine for aiding in the fraudulent import of a high-speed Cigarette boat from the US into France.

The case was investigated and prosecuted by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Paris (France) and involved the deliberate undervaluation of the vessel’s customs value.

Imported by a French company based near Bordeaux in July 2019, the yacht’s true value – USD $745,784 (approximately €686,000) – was concealed through forged documents supplied by the defendant. This misdeclaration caused an estimated loss to the EU budget of over €100,000.

The defendant, director of the US-based brokerage company that facilitated the transaction between the US exporter and the French importer, was convicted as an accomplice on 4 June 2025. The defendant has ten days to appeal. If no appeal is lodged, the decision becomes final.

The case highlights increased scrutiny by tax and legal authorities on the international movement of luxury yachts and boats, with a particular focus on instances involving undervaluation or the use of fraudulent import documentation.

According to the EPPO, other suspects in the case will be prosecuted and brought to judgement before the Paris competent criminal court.

The investigation, led by the EPPO, was carried out by the French National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF).

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