U.S. Charges Man With Importing Illegal Toys
Times staff and wire reports
A Los Angeles toy importer was charged with breaking federal rules regarding choking hazards and removable parts on items for small children.
Steven Thai, 41, allegedly ran a now-defunct toy import company called Super Rambo in the downtown toy district.
The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission charged Thai with 17 criminal counts.
They allege that he imported more than 120,000 hazardous toys from China to sell from his warehouse on South San Pedro Street.
The toys included cars with small removable tires, plastic monkeys with tails that could break off and assorted trucks, racing cars, planes, wind-up robots and trains considered unsafe for children under 3.
Thai could face four years in prison and $85,000 in fines.
