News Releases and Statements
News Releases and Statements
In addition to the seized goods, 42 individuals were arrested and 13 vehicles were seized within the Don Flea Market and the Lawrence Flea Market & Auction House. The operation was a culmination of a federal investigation by HSI special agents, in coordination with the Lawrence Police Department.
Jose Antonio Hernandez, 41, and Genaro Vela-Rodriguez, 28, pleaded guilty Monday before Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii to one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement and traffic in counterfeit labels and counterfeit documentation and packaging. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Patrick R. Delahunty are prosecuting the case.
Brian Bethman, 38, of Lafayette Hill, is charged with smuggling in more than 6,000 audiovisual copies of movies and television shows that were protected by copyright between April 2010 and April 2011.
An Altavista man, who previously pleaded guilty to charges related to trafficking in counterfeit sports apparel, was sentenced Tuesday to five months in prison, followed by five months of home confinement. The sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington.
As part of his sentence, George E. Hall, 46, must also pay approximately $64,000 in restitution.
Kevin "Peter" Wang, 54, coordinated the illegal importation of 11 shipping containers of counterfeit apparel, according to court documents. From 2008 to 2012, the counterfeit goods were smuggled in shipping containers through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The containers, which were purposely mislabeled as toilet paper and garment hangers in order to evade detection by U.S. customs officials, included included fake Nike shoes; Coach, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton handbags; and NFL, NBA, and NHL jerseys.
Anoushirvan Sarraf, 48, of Rockville, was also found guilty of illegal importing, receiving and delivering non-FDA approved drugs and devices, and engaging in the unlicensed wholesale distribution of prescription drugs. In all, Sarraf was convicted of nine felonies and four associated misdemeanors. Eva Montejo Pritchard, 48, also of Rockville, who was the clinic office manager, was convicted of a single felony count for conspiracy.
The indictment of Han Woon Liew, 45, from Sugar Land, Texas, returned under seal April 16, was unsealed May 1 upon his arrest. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson May 2.
Yi Hui Chen, 47, a merchant in downtown Laredo, pleaded guilty to the counterfeiting charges May 16, 2013. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted Chen's guilty plea and sentenced him to 18 months in federal prison.
The event included a panel to discuss public-private partnerships in IP theft enforcement and featured discussions with IPR Center Director Lev Kubiak, National Football League Senior Vice President and Chief Litigation Officer Anastasia Danias, and Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General Miriam Vogel.
IPR Center, HSI, CBP and Mexican Customs received awards for Operation Team Player, which targeted the sale of counterfeit sports products and tickets. The operation netted more than $37 million in fake sports merchandise, 70 arrests and 163 website seizures.
On four separate indictments, Ezequiel Bayon-Santos, Katherine Agostini-Ruiz, Rafael Torres-Vicente and Eileen Martinez-Esteves were charged with trafficking counterfeit Freshlook Colorblends contact lenses. They face a collective forfeiture allegation of 226 boxes of counterfeit contact lenses.
Didier De Nier, 63, who lived in Simi Valley until he fled the U.S. nearly two years ago, was found guilty Wednesday of five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Hao Yang, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz, who also entered an order that Yang forfeit five bank accounts worth more than $59,000, a 2010 Acura purchased with proceeds of the crime, and counterfeit computer software, DVDs, sports jerseys and other items valued at approximately $280,720.
The number of IPR seizures increased nearly 7 percent from 22,848 in FY 2012 to 24,361 in FY 2013.
Ning Guo, a member of a massive, international conspiracy responsible for importing counterfeit goods from China worth a retail value of $300 million, was sentenced Friday to more than three years in federal prison.
As Detroit Tigers fans prepare for the March 31 home opener, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) warned the public Thursday to beware of counterfeit merchandise and tickets.
Talib Khan, 43, of Montreal, Quebec, and Barbados, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and sale of misbranded drugs. Between August 2009 and August 2013, Gallant Pharma smuggled and sold more than $12.4 million in non-FDA-approved chemotherapy drugs and injectable cosmetic drugs and devices, generating profits of $3.4 million.
Josue Rivera, 38, pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit and unauthorized goods. As part of his plea agreement, Rivera paid $29,000 in restitution and forfeited two bank accounts worth approximately $79,000.
Emilio Perez-Solis, 39, of Oakland, and Hernan Cortes, 53, of Tulare, are named in a four-count indictment handed down Thursday charging them with criminal copyright infringement for private financial gain, criminal copyright infringement, trafficking in counterfeit labels, documentation and packaging, and conspiracy.
Sheldon Kennedy, 26, was arrested this week in Miami for his role in selling illegal drugs, false identifications, counterfeit currency, guns and other contraband over the Internet.
The operation, which began in June, netted 397,140 items including fake jerseys, ball caps, T-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs. The items had a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of more than $37.8 million – more than the previous six Super Bowl enforcement efforts combined.
The owner of a Bridgeview vehicle diagnostic center has been charged with felony counterfeit trademarks after at least two dozen counterfeit airbags were found at his business.
David Nailen pleaded guilty to four counts of trafficking in counterfeit Viagra Tuesday, following an investigation by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
With basketball fans across the country heading to New Orleans this week for NBA All-Star 2014 Sunday at New Orleans Arena, the National Basketball Association (NBA) is working with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to caution unsuspecting fans against counterfeiters attempting to sell unauthorized and poorly made knock-off merchandise.
Fake jerseys, ball caps, t-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs are among the counterfeit merchandise and clothing confiscated by teams of special agents and officers from ICE's HSI, CBP, USPIS and state and local police departments around the country - all in partnership with the NFL and other major sports leagues.
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