News Releases and Statements

Since 2010, Ford and HSI Detroit have collaborated on dozens of enforcement efforts that resulted in the seizures of websites selling counterfeit diagnostics equipment, charges against individuals selling counterfeit airbags and airbag components, seizures of faulty Engine Control Modules (ECMs), which act as the vehicle’s “black box,” and seizures of other sensitive automotive parts.

These new partners greatly strengthen the IPR Center, which was founded in 2000, and serves as one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. The center uses the expertise of its 22 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions, and conduct investigations related to IP theft.

Officials are warning consumers not to buy contact lenses from such places as Halloween or novelty shops, salons, beauty supply stores, or online if the site doesn’t require a prescription. Although many places illegally sell decorative contact lenses to consumers without valid prescriptions for as little as $20, these vendors are not authorized distributors of contact lenses, which by law require a prescription.

Didier De Nier, 64, who lived in Simi Valley until he fled the U.S. nearly two years ago, was found guilty in April by a federal jury of five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.

Nick Chen, 46, was charged in a 4-count sealed indictment returned Oct. 8, which was unsealed Oct. 10 as he made his initial appearance before US Magistrate Judge Mary Milloy.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to smuggle at least 30 known shipments, totaling about 100,000 pills, from China to Texas. As alleged in the indictment, the shipments contained bogus imitations of Xanax, Valium, sibutramine, Cialis, Viagra and Stilnox (which is marketed in the United States as Ambien). None of the pills seized and tested were legitimate; all either contained incorrect active ingredients or were sub-potent.

These counterfeit parts usually bear the trademark of a legitimate and trusted brand, but they were produced by another party and are not made to the specifications of the original equipment manufacturer. They're often produced illegally and sold at a profit to fund other criminal activities.

Abdul Masood Qayumi, 25, of Surrey, B.C., and his brother Abdul Masih Qayumi, 26, marketed and sold more than $33,000 worth of counterfeit Honda, BMW and Toyota airbags on eBay for about one year, according to court records. HSI special agents began their investigation after American Honda Motor Corporation alerted investigators of the brothers' online sales scheme.

The three-day event gave attendees the opportunity to learn about and discuss operational best practices to combat transnational organized intellectual property (IP) crime through plenary sessions, operational workshops, interactive round tables and specialized IP crime learning sessions.

The 10-count indictment charges Marla Ahlgrimm, 59, of Madison, Wisconsin, and Balbir Bhogal, 67, of Las Vegas, Nevada, with importing and distributing controlled substances and misbranded drugs, trafficking in counterfeit drugs, mail and wire fraud, smuggling and money laundering.

Jack Frison Sr., 65, of Frontenac, Missouri, was convicted on one felony count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, one felony count of aiding and abetting copyright infringement, and one felony count of aiding and abetting trafficking counterfeit goods.

Counterfeit jerseys, headwear, T-shirts, and other souvenir items are among the counterfeit merchandise typically sold at and around these events. Large sporting events are prime targets for counterfeiters, many of whom travel the country with the sole intention of scamming sports fans.

Zexiong Chen, 28, and Haotian Chen, 26, who are unrelated, were charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods. It is alleged that in February 2013, the defendants incorporated Max Wireless Group, Inc. as a vehicle for importing and reselling cellphone cases, many of which were counterfeit.

John W. Rice, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Rice was sentenced for producing and selling thousands of pirated CDs and DVDs.

According to court documents, Jose Antonio Hernandez, 42, pleaded guilty May 19 to multiple federal courts related to copyright infringement and trafficking in counterfeit labels. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California.

All told, the enforcement actions resulted in the seizure of thousands of individual items bearing the names of more than 20 designer brands, including UGG boots, Michael Kors purses, Beats by Dre headphones, Otterbox and LifeProof cell phone cases and NFL jerseys.

Kustoms Products, Inc., owner Harold Ray Bettencourt II, 60, of Coos Bay; his sons, Bo Bettencourt, 34, Nicholas Ryan Bettencourt, 32, and Peter Tracy Bettencourt, 28, of North Bend; and company office manager, Margo Antoinette Densmore, 43, also of Coos Bay, will be sentenced along with the corporation in December for fraudulently obtaining some 750 Department of Defense (DOD) contracts with values in excess of $10 million.

Fayez Al-Jabri, 45, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nancy F. Atlas. In addition to his prison term, Al-Jabri will serve three years of supervised release and must pay $15,066.92 in restitution. On March 21, Al-Jabri pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, to introduce misbranded prescription drugs into interstate commerce, and to import such goods contrary to U.S. law; he also pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods; and one count of introducing counterfeit drugs into interstate commerce in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act

ConnectZone.com, LLC, of Lynnwood, was sentenced to five years' organizational probation. Its owner, Daniel Oberholtzer, will serve 37 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones also ordered the forfeiture the proceeds from the counterfeit sales amounting to nearly $717,000.

Hai Dong Jiang, aka Jimmy, aka Dong, 37, of Staten Island, New York, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit.

Norman Cipriano, 41, of Warwick, was sentenced for trafficking more than 14,500 counterfeit sports jerseys, clothing accessories and health and beauty products valued at more than $1 million. An amount of restitution to be paid by the defendant to various companies impacted in this matter will be determined at a later date. Cipriano pleaded guilty Aug. 5, 2013, to trafficking in counterfeit goods and services.

Following the execution of a state search warrant at his "Get In Tha Game" store, Gregory Williamson, 50, was taken into custody by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and investigators from the San Bernardino County District Attorney's (SBDA) Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.

Peter Picone, 41, of Methuen, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Martinez of the District of Connecticut to an indictment charging him with conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit military goods. In a plea agreement with the government, he also agreed to forfeit $70,050 and almost 13,000 counterfeit integrated circuits seized at his home and business in April.

Ming Zheng, aka Uncle Mi, 48, of New York, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to conspiracy to launder money. Judge Salas imposed the sentence Monday in Newark federal court.

Xian Chen Chen, 37, was charged in a nine-count with trafficking in counterfeit goods. According to court documents, on November 13, 2013, Chen attempted to traffic goods containing counterfeit marks, including goods purported to be from Beats Electronics, LLC, Chanel Inc., Coach Services Inc., Gucci America Inc., Louis Vuitton Malletier, Michael Kors, LLC, The North Face Apparel Corp., Tiffany (NJ), LLC and Tory Burch, LLC.