Authorities seized more than $2 million worth of counterfeit goods in Queens bearing logos of such designers as Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, The North Face and Versace.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said seven borough residents were charged in connection with the investigation that enabled authorities to confiscate some 13,000 fake items, ranging from belts and handbags to watches, boots and scarves.
“Trademark counterfeiting is not a victimless crime,” Brown said. “Small counterfeit operations like this one discovered as a result of this investigation fuel an underground economy.”
Dubbed “Operation Treasure Hunt,” the probe began last summer and it was led by the NYPD, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and Brown’s office.
According to five criminal complaints filed by the DA, the knockoffs were seized from storage facilities located in Jamaica and College Point.
“They are cash businesses that pay no taxes, damage the reputations of reputable brand owners and lower consumer confidence in the name brands by foisting inferior products into the marketplace,” Brown said.
During the operation, police arrested Naqing Zhang, 31 and his wife, Wei Wei Dong, 32, of Whitestone; Chin Chu, 43, and his wife Jian Xia, 38, of Flushing; Sai Chen, 39, of Flushing; Wei Liao, 41, of Jamaica; and Pizhong Zhou, 22, of Douglaston.
The defendants face up to four years in prison if convicted of trademark counterfeiting charges. They were released on their own recognize.
12 comments:
"They were released on their own recognize."
They will disappear and change name.
Isn't that nice? THe D.A.'s staff has arranged the counterfeit goods so as to resemble the colors of the "Rainbow Flag". To represent, I suppose, the VIBRANT DIVERSITY that is The Borough of Queens...
There's plenty more of this cringe happening in every corner of Queens.
Wait - weren't the counterfeiters creating jobs? That justifys all manner of crime, no?
Are any of them legal? Why were they released?
And why only 7?
Good job thank you.
what about queens corruption are you planning to do anything about it. Or
remain silent
No jail time for the offenders. They will walk with a misdemeanor slap on the wrist. If they keep clean for a year or two all records will be wiped clean.
They are immigrants and don't know any better. Boo-hoo-hoo.
Will Brown turn them over to INS if they are illegal? Bet not.
Deport them!!
Chinese law breakers....no surprise here.
reading the article...
reading the article...
reading the article...
Bingo! There are the names i expected to see.
"The defendants face up to four years in prison if convicted of trademark counterfeiting charges. They were released on their own recognize"
Never happen, they'll cop to a "Violation" and do community service in a senior center near where they live
These 7 Queens "residents" should be punished to the full extent of the law.
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