*NEWS*LEXMARK PURSUING INK COUNTERFEITERS

[Anonymous]

Lexmark
continues pursuing supplies counterfeiters

LEXINGTON, Ky.,March 05 –Lexmark International, Inc.  is
continuing its campaign against counterfeit consumable supplies and packaging by
supporting the efforts of law enforcement officers in the pursuit of those
suspected of marketing counterfeit Lexmark toner cartridges.

Undercover raids in three states resulted in the recent
arrest of one individual, David Carl Lasota, and led to the issuance of an
arrest warrant for Joseph Lamar Johnson. Based on records seized in this
multi-state investigation, more than 13,000 counterfeit Lexmark toner cartridge
boxes were fraudulently marketed.

Working with Lexmark and Stumar Investigations, the
Allegheny County Police Department in Pennsylvania, the Clifton, New Jersey
Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the United
States Postal Inspection Service issued multiple search warrants in an effort to
stop the sale of these counterfeit toner cartridges.

As a result of these efforts, the United States Attorney’s
Office for the Middle District of Florida (based in Jacksonville) presented
investigative findings to a federal grand jury that issued indictments against
Lasota and Johnson for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods or services.
Lasota was also charged with the additional federal offense of trafficking in
counterfeit goods or services. Trafficking in counterfeit goods carries a
maximum sentence of 10 years. Officers also seized business records and the
artwork and printing plates used to make counterfeit cartons.

Protecting customers

This multi-state investigation continues efforts by Lexmark
over the past several years to preserve the quality of the printing experience
involving genuine, Lexmark-branded equipment.

Worldwide distribution operations of counterfeit consumable
supplies, such as toner and inkjet cartridges, are estimated at more than $1
billion annually. Customers using counterfeit supplies products risk poorer
equipment performance, low supply yields, inferior print quality, toner leakage,
high cartridge failure rates and increased equipment downtime – all of which
cost the customer time and money.

“Lexmark is dedicated to ensuring customer value through
ongoing efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute counterfeit operations,”
said Paul Rooke, Lexmark vice president and president of its Printing Solutions
and Services Division. “Lexmark has zero tolerance for counterfeiting because we
want to ensure that when a customer purchases Lexmark they know they are getting
a genuine Lexmark product.”

Helping customers identify counterfeits

Lexmark is a founding member of the Imaging Supplies
Coalition (ISC), which has launched a consumer-education initiative called “When
in doubt, check it out.” To protect customers from being victimized, this
program allows those who question product quality or authenticity to submit
products anonymously to the ISC to determine if the supplies are counterfeit.
Since the inception of the program, the ISC says counterfeit awareness has
increased significantly among distribution channels. Both distributors and
consumers check the ISC Web site ( http://www.isc-inc.orG /) for further
information on supplies fraud.

[Author]

March 4, 2005 at 9:50 AM