ICE seizes thousands of counterfeit North Face jackets
NEW YORK — A Long Island man was arrested Monday for allegedly importing 50,000 counterfeit North Face coats. The arrest follows an intellectual property rights investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office (NCDA).
Haryash Paul, 64, of Hicksville, New York, who operates Manhattan-based Glamour Line Inc. and is associated with a Jericho-based business known as TRB Designs and Resources Inc, is accused of smuggling counterfeit North Face merchandise with a value in excess of $2 million.
HSI special agents and NCDA investigators executed a search warrant Monday at a warehouse facility located at 230 Engineers Drive in Hicksville, where they seized the counterfeit North Face jackets, which were shipped to the New York area from Bangladesh.
“The seizure of millions of dollars in counterfeit goods this week deals a serious blow to those who attempt to sell inferior products to unwitting consumers,” said Glenn Sorge, acting special agent in charge of HSI New York. “As we finish up a busy shopping season, we again remind consumers to heighten their awareness when buying items whose price seems too good to be true.”
“District attorney investigators worked closely with our federal partners to successfully stop more than 50,000 counterfeit coats from reaching customers this holiday season, and one defendant is facing serious charges as a result,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “We will continue to work with our partners to protect intellectual property and consumer safety here in New York.”
According to experts, the counterfeit products – which sell for approximately one-third the cost of the genuine product – are of inferior quality and do not provide the warmth of genuine North Face jackets. North Face products are only distributed and/or sold by authorized distributors and retailers and both companies associated with Paul are not authorized North Face businesses.
Paul faces up to five to 15 years in prison. The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.
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