Walmart Fined For Shipping Illegal Items to New York

One of the most popular places to shop has settled with New York officials after they say Walmart shipped illegal items to New Yorkers.

The retail giant Walmart has agreed to pay thousands of dollars in fines to New York State after it sold realistic-looking toy guns to New Yorkers and shipped nine of them to addresses in New York, including New York City, Westchester, and Western New York.

Walmart Sold Realistic Toy Guns to New Yorkers

According to a press release, New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured a settlement with Walmart after an investigation revealed that third-party sellers on Walmart’s online store sold realistic-looking toy guns to New Yorkers, and Walmart shipped nine of them to addresses in New York.

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The investigation found that the sale of the realistic-looking toy guns happened through Walmart fulfillment services. Investigators were able to purchase a toy gun from Walmart and have it shipped to New York.

Illegal in New York

New York law prohibits all retailers from selling or shipping toy guns that are black, dark blue, silver, or aluminum-colored and look like a real gun. The law is in place because the realistic-looking toy guns can be used to engage in unlawful activity and have led to several deaths and shootings across the state.

Any business that illegally sells or distributes realistic-looking toy guns in New York can be fined up to $1,000 per violation.

Walmart Pays Fines to New York State

As a result of this settlement, Walmart is required to pay $16,000 in penalties and fees and ensure that all its third-party sellers are unable to sell imitation toy guns to anyone in New York State.

"Realistic-looking toy guns can put communities in serious danger and that is why they are banned in New York," said Attorney General James. "Walmart failed to prevent its third-party sellers from selling realistic-looking toy guns to New York addresses, violating our laws and putting people at risk. The ban on realistic-looking toy guns is meant to keep New Yorkers safe and my office will not hesitate to hold any business that violates that law accountable."

Attorney General James encourages consumers who see realistic-looking toy guns sold in stores or online that offer shipping to New York to contact her office by filing an online complaint.