Tag:

Counterfeit Goods

$2M In Fake Nintendo Gear Sold On Amazon From Island Park Warehouse: DA $2M In Fake Nintendo Gear Sold On Amazon From Island Park Warehouse: DA
$2M In Fake Nintendo Gear Sold On Amazon From Island Park Warehouse: DA A New York man is accused of selling more than $2 million worth of counterfeit Nintendo products through Amazon, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced on Thursday, Sept. 4. Isaac Lapidus, 34, of Lawrence was charged with Trademark Counterfeiting in the First Degree and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree after investigators uncovered hundreds of thousands of fake Nintendo Switch Docking Stations, adapters, and Pokémon Go Plus accessories allegedly sold from an Island Park warehouse. Lapidus was arraigned Wednesday before Judge Lisa Locurto, where he pleaded not guilty and w…
$573K In Fake Rolexes, Designer Shades Seized Before Hitting Pennsylvania Streets: Feds $573K In Fake Rolexes, Designer Shades Seized Before Hitting Pennsylvania Streets: Feds
$573K In Fake Rolexes, Designer Shades Seized Before Hitting Pennsylvania Streets: Feds Not so fast. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in faux Rolexes and fake designer sunglasses didn’t make it past customs in Pittsburgh. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Pittsburgh intercepted a shipment of fake Rolex watches and knockoff luxury sunglasses valued at over half a million dollars before they could hit the streets, federal officials announced Thursday, June 26. The package, arriving from the United Arab Emirates and mislabeled as “Empty Poly Bag Ladies Hand Bag,” was flagged on April 27.  When officers opened it, they found 13 counterfeit Rolex watches and…
$39.5M In Fake Sports Gear Seized In Massive Crackdown Before Super Bowl LIX $39.5M In Fake Sports Gear Seized In Massive Crackdown Before Super Bowl LIX
$39.5M In Fake Sports Gear Seized In Massive Crackdown Before Super Bowl LIX Authorities confiscated $39.5 million worth of counterfeit sports merchandise ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. More than 214,500 items were seized in the year-long crackdown, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said in a news release on Wednesday, Feb. 5. "Operation Team Player" targeted fake jerseys, hats, jewelry, and other memorabilia being sold to fans. Led by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), the operation involved Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and major sports leagues.  The initia…
Ex-Mass Cop Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds Ex-Mass Cop Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds
Ex-Mass Cop Busted in $3M Fake Luxury Watch Conspiracy Gets 60 Days In Jail: Feds If you bought a luxury watch from a Massachusetts police officer for a steal, you may have been duped. That’s what former cop Klevis Nako, 24, admitted to in a Connecticut federal court this week, according to federal authorities. Nako was convicted of conspiracy to sell counterfeit goods after he imported fake designer watches from China and sold them across the U.S. through Instagram and Facebook, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said. He has been sentenced to 60 days in federal prison, authorities said. His operation unraveled after federal agents intercepted dozens of shipments and con…
$1.4M In Counterfeit PA Inspection Stickers From Israel Siezed By US Customs $1.4M In Counterfeit PA Inspection Stickers From Israel Siezed By US Customs
$1.4M In Counterfeit PA Inspection Stickers From Israel Siezed By US Customs U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Philadelphia intercepted 22,000 counterfeit Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers worth $1.4 million in two shipments from Israel, officials announced Thursday, Dec. 26. The counterfeit stickers, shipped to an address in Philadelphia, were seized on Dec. 16, following Pennsylvania authorities’ confirmation that the decals were fraudulent, CBP said in a release. CBP officers identified the suspicious inspection stickers in two parcels—one containing 10,000 decals on Nov. 26, and another with 12,000 decals on Dec. 9. Both shipments were deta…
Biz Owners Take Pleas After NJ Feds Seize Record $14M Worth Of Cisco Networking Knockoffs Biz Owners Take Pleas After NJ Feds Seize Record $14M Worth Of Cisco Networking Knockoffs
Biz Owners Take Pleas After NJ Feds Seize Record $14M Worth Of Cisco Networking Knockoffs Three North Jersey business owners admitted importing and selling cheap knockoffs of Cisco Systems networking equipment after federal agents seized an unprecedented $14 million worth of the devices from their warehouse in Passaic County. Musa Karaman, 35, of North Arlington, was the last of the trio to take a deal from the government, pleading guilty to trafficking counterfeit goods in U.S. District Court in Newark on Thursday, Aug. 24. Accomplices Sadri Ozturan, 37, of Hawthorne, and Israfil "David" Demir, 38, of Secaucus both pleaded guilty to the same charges on Aug. 8, U.S. Attorney for…
Philly Mechanic Admits To Putting Phony Air Bags In Cars: Feds Philly Mechanic Admits To Putting Phony Air Bags In Cars: Feds
Philly Mechanic Admits To Putting Phony Air Bags In Cars: Feds A Philadelphia automotive technician pleaded guilty to putting fake Chinese airbags in cars that he sold to unwitting customers, according to federal officials.  Emiliano Rodriguez, a 45-year-old Dominican national living in Philly, copped to one count of trafficking counterfeit goods and two more related counts in federal court on Thursday, Feb. 9, said US Attorney Jacqueline Romero.  From January 2017 to October 2019, investigators say Rodriguez was importing defective, counterfeit airbags from China and installing them in used vehicles before turning around and putting them bac…
Celebrity Jeweler From Philly Area Convicted Of Selling Counterfeit Rolexes: Feds Celebrity Jeweler From Philly Area Convicted Of Selling Counterfeit Rolexes: Feds
Celebrity Jeweler From Philly Area Convicted Of Selling Counterfeit Rolexes: Feds A Philadelphia jeweler who has done business with famous musicians and pro athletes was convicted for selling phony merchandise at his South Street store, authorities say.  Dimitre Hadjiev, the 41-year-old proprietor of Ice Fire Jewelry, was found guilty of trafficking counterfeit goods and financial fraud at a trial in federal court, said US Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero in a statement.  Hadjiev, who has been photographed with Philly rapper Meek Mill and one-time 76ers great Andre Iguodala, was "knowingly buying and selling" counterfeit Rolexes at his store since at least 20…
Jersey Shore Man Arrested With 600 Designer Knockoffs: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Arrested With 600 Designer Knockoffs: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Arrested With 600 Designer Knockoffs: Prosecutor A 47-year-old man from South Toms River has been charged with selling counterfeit designer goods, authorities said. Rasheem Paige was additionally charged with weapons offenses, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and South Toms River Police Chief William Kosh. The charges are a result of an investigation conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Economic Crime Squad, Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and the South Toms River Police Department.  The investigation revealed that while operating a storefront…
Suspicious Sock Shipment: Officers Seize Counterfeit Socks Headed To Loudoun Suspicious Sock Shipment: Officers Seize Counterfeit Socks Headed To Loudoun
Suspicious Sock Shipment: Officers Seize Counterfeit Socks Headed To Loudoun Customs and Border Patrol officers seized another shipment of counterfeit diabetic socks headed to Loudoun County, officials said. On July 29, law enforcement found 165,707 pairs of diabetic socks that violated the Cotton seal at the Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News, just after they seized over 100,000 counterfeit pairs two weeks prior, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.  This shipment looked too familiar, as it resembled the first seized shipment of Hugh Ugoli diabetic socks from Turkey on July 13, authorities said.  The socks, which bore an unauthorized "Seal of …
Maryland Woman Caught Sneaking $500,000 Worth Of Knock-Off Clothes At Virginia Airport Maryland Woman Caught Sneaking $500,000 Worth Of Knock-Off Clothes At Virginia Airport
Maryland Woman Caught Sneaking $500,000 Worth Of Knock-Off Clothes At Virginia Airport A Maryland woman brought home more than just a few souvenirs from her recent trip to Asia, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports. Instead, she packed her 12 bags full of 298 pieces of counterfeit clothing items including scarves, hats, shoes and jewelry. The items bore brand names like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Prada and Gianni Versace and collectively were appraised at more than $500,000 if authentic, CBP said.  Agents took the items after the woman landed at Washington Dulles International Airport on April 10, CBP said. The Laurel native said, both verba…
More Than $2 Million Worth Of Fake Designer Clothes Seized At Port Of Virginia More Than $2 Million Worth Of Fake Designer Clothes Seized At Port Of Virginia
More Than $2 Million Worth Of Fake Designer Clothes Seized At Port Of Virginia Customs agents seized more than a 1,100 counterfeit designer dresses and shawls worth an estimated $2.3 million, authorities said.  Officers at the Port of Virginia uncovered the massive haul of fake goods in April during a search of a shipment bound for Cincinnati, Ohio, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said.  The haul included fake Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Apple items, CBP reports. Officers said they were alerted to the fakes because of their poor quality. "CBP is charged with enforcing trade laws, and we continue to devote substantial resources to target, intercept, det…
$250K Worth Of Counterfeit Watches Seized From PA Traveler At Dulles Airport: CBP $250K Worth Of Counterfeit Watches Seized From PA Traveler At Dulles Airport: CBP
$250K Worth Of Counterfeit Watches Seized From PA Traveler At Dulles Airport: CBP A Pennsylvania traveler unfortunately cannot turn back the clock on his counterfeit watch being seized at the Dulles Airport, according to a release by Customs and Border Protection. The unidentified Harrisburg traveler was found with a plastic bag full of watches during a bag examination of luggage on a flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Mar. 20, CBP says. The bag contained 10 designer watches including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, and Rolex, as well as a Louis Vuitton handbag, and two pairs of Ray Ban sunglasses, a release by CBP says. The items were suspected to be …