Former Colorado police officer sentenced for selling counterfeit Denver Broncos merchandise
DENVER — The last of four defendants in a money laundering and theft case operating a business selling counterfeit Denver Broncos merchandise at the Mile High Flea Market was sentenced Wednesday.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Economic Crime Unit of the Adams County District Attorney’s Office.
David Brian Henrichsen, 51, a former police officer in Colorado Springs, Colorado, pleaded guilty to one count of computer crime to commit theft, and was fined $7,500 by Adams County District Judge Ted Tow for his role in the criminal enterprise.
Henrichsen was charged with Marc Misko, 62, Mitchell Misko, 62, and Glenn Ford, 64, with operating a business selling counterfeit sports merchandise at the Mile High Flea Market from Nov. 14, 2006 to Jan. 10, 2015.
The merchandise was falsely marked and identified as official merchandise for the Broncos and other Denver professional and college teams as well as teams based in other cities throughout the country. They imported the fake merchandise from known counterfeit exporters located in China and Hong Kong to sell at their business at the flea market as well as to other individuals and companies.
“Counterfeiting branded merchandise is not a victimless crime,” said John Eisert, special agent in charge of HSI Denver. “Counterfeits produce inferior products; they steal American jobs; and they support criminal organizations. These prosecutions of counterfeiters help deter other potential counterfeiters.”
Marc Misko previously pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit money laundering and was sentenced to three years’ probation plus a $7,500 fine. Mitchell Misko pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and was sentenced to three years’ probation plus a $5,000 fine. Ford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and was sentenced to two years’ probation and 60 hours of community service.
Trafficking counterfeit goods is the second-largest illicit trade activity, valued at roughly $250 billion annually. In fiscal year 2014, HSI, working through its National Intellectual Property Rights Center, seized more than 23,000 counterfeit items with an MSRP of $1.2 billion. Members of the public are encouraged toreport information about suspected counterfeiters by calling ICE’s toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE, or by completing its online tip form.
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