News Releases and Statements

This investigation has resulted in the guilty pleas of other conspirators of SB Medical Inc. and TC Medical Group, including: David Eli Burke, director of sales; Shlomo David Rabi, director of sales and marketing; Asaf Akiva Ibrahimian; sales representative; Reuven Daniel Mirlis, sales representative; Rivka Rabi, drop shipper.

Graciella Balderrama-Acevedo, 53, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison and $90,000 in restitution to Samsung. Balderrama is a Mexican citizen and is expected to face deportation proceedings following her release from prison.

The City of London’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) unit arrested the 26-year-old at his workplace in Leeds yesterday morning before taking him to a local police station for questioning.

As baseball fans welcome in another season, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is warning the public to beware of counterfeit merchandise and tickets.

Fake jerseys, ball caps, t-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs are among the counterfeit merchandise and clothing typically sold at and around these events. Additionally, authorities have seen an increase in the sale of counterfeit tickets being sold to events like these. Large sporting events are prime targets for counterfeiters, many of whom travel the country with the sole intention of scamming innocent sports fans.

Over the past decade, the two agencies have worked together on several major multimillion dollar fraud investigations, leading to a number of high profile convictions. The launch of the City of London Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in September 2013 brought a new dimension to this partnership, with a shared focus on tackling intellectual property crime.

Han Woon Liew, 46, of Sugar Land, Texas, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Lynn C. Hughes; to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to pay $2.6 million in restitution. Liew pleaded guilty to the charges Nov. 18, 2014.

Gregory Zimmerman, 43, of Oswego, Illinois, was charged with possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance in a criminal complaint that was filed Feb. 4 in federal court and unsealed Tuesday. Zimmerman, a licensed chiropractor, self-surrendered to authorities Feb. 9 and was released on a $25,000 bond.

Speaking at a NFL news conference, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Sarah R. Saldaña, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Director of Field Operations William K. Brooks, and NFL Counsel Dolores F. DiBella discussed the results of the initiative, dubbed “Operation Team Player.”

Jack Frison Sr., of Frontenac, Missouri, and the owner of the Frison Flea Market, was sentenced following his Sept. 14, 2014 conviction for: one felony count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, one felony count of aiding and abetting felony copyright infringement, and one felony count of aiding and abetting trafficking counterfeit goods.

The seized illicit honey that was abandoned or forfeited totals 660 barrels weighing 203,280 kilograms (448,156 lbs.). The containers’ shipping documents indicated the bulk honey originated in Latvia.

At a news conference Friday, representatives from the three agencies detailed the results of three intellectual property theft cases, including two involving HSI. The seized goods included counterfeit NFL-branded sportswear, designer clothing, videos, smartphones and even electronic audio products worth over $800,000.

Rateb Said Najjar, 60, and his son, Eyad Rateb Najjar, 36, both of Westminster, are each charged with 134 felony counts of money laundering; six felony counts of manufacturing and sale of a counterfeit mark; two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime with sentencing enhancements for property damage over $1.3 million; and money laundering in excess of $2.5 million.

John F. Crawford IV, 48, trafficked in various counterfeit National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball logo apparel. In October 2012, HSI Pittsburgh was tipped off that Crawford’s gift shop in Breezewood, Pennsylvania, was selling counterfeit Pittsburgh Steelers trademarked merchandise, including the NFL team jerseys.

Yakov Meir Chazanow, 41, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to serve 21 months in prison for conspiring to commit criminal copyright infringement, manufacturing counterfeit goods and to trafficking in goods bearing counterfeit Dolby trademarks and counterfeit labels.

The operation, dubbed Operation Team Player, resulted in seizures of jerseys, hats, t-shirts and posters. The seizures were part of a crackdown on IPR violators leading up to the NHL Winter Classic. Operation Team Player is an effort by the HSI-led IPR Center that targets counterfeit sports merchandise from all of the major sports leagues.

Nine stores and a warehouse owned by Farmacias Caridad were the subject of a seizure order executed Friday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for importing hazardous toys from China for sale in Puerto Rico. The investigation was led by HSI in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Zexiong Chen, 28, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $6,000 and ordered to pay $4,820 restitution. Haotian Chen, 26, was sentenced to time served which was one day in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $4,000 and ordered to pay $4,829 restitution.

Naqing Zhang, 31, and his wife, Wei Dong, 32, Chin C. Chu, 43, and his wife, Jian Y. Xia, 38, Sai E. Chen, 39, Wei A. Liao, 41,and Zhou Pizhong, 22, face charges of second-degree trademark counterfeiting. If convicted, they each face up to four years in prison.

“Black Friday” sales drew consumers by the thousands to line up for hours to get a drastically reduced TV, pair of shoes or piece of furniture. Those who chose to literally avoid the holiday rush could also take advantage of “Cyber Monday” and catch equally attractive deals online.

HSI executed a state search warrant at The Source II, located on Woodward Avenue, following an investigation that included multiple undercover buys of counterfeit merchandise. Special agents also served a state search warrant at the Southfield residence of the business owner, Cerhue Walker, where he was arrested on charges of trafficking counterfeit goods. A second suspect, Latrice Walker, was arrested at the Detroit store.

This is the fifth year the HSI-led National IPR Center worked with its international partners to target websites selling counterfeit products online culminating on Cyber Monday. Due to the global nature of Internet crime, the National IPR Center partnered with Europol who, through its member countries, seized top-level domains as part of Project Transatlantic/Operation In-Our-Sites V.

The suspects, a 36-year-old man from Upton, and a 33-year-old man from Dewsbury, were taken into custody Nov. 25 by detectives with the City of London Police Department’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU).

Once it is determined that the items are counterfeit, federal officials will seize the merchandise. But in many instances, the damage to the consumer and the economy has already been done.