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Traders World probe leads to $15M counterfeit bust
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
MONROE — Monroe Detective Ken Parson said the warehouse busted last week in Youngstown was packed full of fake goods that really didn't look like the real thing, but sold just the same.
An investigation into knockoffs sold at Traders World Flea Market led to a warehouse raid that netted $15 million to $20 million in fake goods, believed to be the largest counterfeiting operation in Ohio's history.
"I guess some people really don't know, or don't care that it's counterfeit," Parson said. "But it's junk."
Parson said a search warrant was executed Friday, Aug. 22, at a 6,000-square-foot warehouse in Weathersfield Twp. in Trumbull County, which is near Youngstown in northeastern Ohio.
The investigation started in May after counterfeit products were found to be sold at Traders World.
Investigators from Monroe, the Trademark Enforcement Agency and Bruce Kingsland & Associates, retained by the trademark holders, eventually uncovered what is believed to be a primary supplier of counterfeit merchandise in Ohio and possibly the entire Midwest.
The warehouse was packed with counterfeit purses, wallets, jewelry, hats, gloves, shoes and scarves labeled as Coach, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Ed Hardy, John Deere, National Football League, Major League Baseball, The Ohio State University, Harley-Davidson, 3M, Playboy and other name brands, in addition to products that appeared to be knockoff toothpaste, batteries and cell phone accessories, Parson said.
Parson said the jewelry being passed off as Tiffany & Co., "looked like a dog collar with heart on it, but people apparently buy it."
"This is the largest raid of its kind in the state of Ohio," Parson said. "These guys were major players."
Three suspects, all Chinese nationals who reside in the Queens area of New York City, were identified, he said. None has been charged.
Parson said he will be seeking direct indictment of the three suspects through Warren County Common Pleas Court on charges of engaging in corrupt activity, the state's version of federal racketeering charge.
