RICHMOND, Va. — Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc. said Wednesday it is suing seven Chinese online retailers, alleging they sold counterfeit versions of Altria’s top-selling cigarette brands to customers in the U.S.

The owner of the nation’s largest tobacco company, Philip Morris USA, said this is the first time a U.S. company has sued China-based websites for selling counterfeit cigarettes to American consumers.

Altria said the websites are violating a federal law that took effect in June prohibiting cigarette sellers from delivering tobacco by mail and requiring them to comply with taxing and other laws in the locations where they do business.

The company is asking the court to ban the online retailers from selling the cigarettes and order them to turn over profits and pay punitive damages.