Berlin Lighting Company Settles $300K Federal Case Over Foreign Product Sales

 

LED Lighting Solutions, a company based in Berlin, Connecticut, has agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve allegations that it violated federal procurement laws by selling foreign-manufactured products to U.S. government agencies.

According to U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan, the company and its owner, Thomas DeSantos, allegedly failed to comply with the Buy American Act (BAA) and the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). Specifically, they were accused of supplying products made in China—a country not covered by U.S. trade agreements—while falsely certifying that these products met domestic sourcing requirements.

The violations occurred under a General Services Administration (GSA) contract initiated in 2013, which mandated adherence to the TAA. Despite annual certifications asserting compliance, LED Lighting Solutions reportedly shipped Chinese-made products directly to agencies such as the Air Force, Coast Guard, State Department, and USDA.

Additionally, the company entered into contracts with the Air Force, Army, and FEMA that required BAA compliance but allegedly misrepresented foreign products as American-made.

As part of the settlement, LED Lighting Solutions will also withdraw two appeals related to an Army contract termination.