Man pleads not guilty to smuggling fake Marlboros

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Chinese national has pleaded not guilty to charges that he smuggled more than $1 million worth of fake Marlboro cigarettes into the United States.

Lin Xiao Wei (lihn joo way) was charged with selling, dispensing and fraudulently importing a counterfeit tobacco product. He entered his plea Monday afternoon in federal court in Providence, R.I.

Wei did not request bail, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Lincoln Almond ordered him held as a flight risk.

Federal prosecutors say a confidential source arranged for the 32-year-old Wei to ship a 20-foot container of counterfeit Marlboros from China to Miami. The shipment was labeled as leather products headed for Rhode Island.

Prosecutors also say Wei discussed dealing in fake Viagra and fake Nike sneakers with the source.