15 months in fed pen for bogus NFL, NHL, MLB merchandise

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: A judge in Newark today sentenced a Clifton man to 15 months in federal prison for selling more than $300,000 worth of counterfeit NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball merchandise, as well as other swag that he imported from Asia.

Photo Credit: *Cliffview Pilot File Photo*

Jerry DeMarco

07/16/2013 5:23 p.m.

Wesam Abedrabbo, 29, pleaded guilty to importing the merchandise from China, Taiwan, and Japan, and then passing it off in the U.S. as genuine goods.

Phony labels indicated they were made by North Face and UGG, as well as the pro sports leagues.

Abedrabbo said sold the bogus good through eBay and on a site called tophotnamebrands.com. He admitted he also paid others commissions to sell for him.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden sentenced Abedrabbo to one year of supervised release. She also ordered him to forfeit $387,516, representing the gross proceeds.

U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman praised special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations in Newark for the investigation leading to today’s sentence. Handling the case for the government was Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph B. Shumofsky of Fishman’s Economic Crimes Unit.

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