Chong Lam, Counterfeit Goods Trafficking, New York 2008

Counterfeit Goods Traffickers Brought to Justice

A federal jury in Richmond, Va., convicted Chong Lam, 52, and Siu Yung Chan, aka Joyce Chan, 42, both of New York, for their participation in one of the largest counterfeit luxury goods operations in the United States history.

The jury found Lam and Chan each guilty on one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods imported from the People’s Republic of China (PRC); two counts of trafficking in counterfeit handbags, wallets, purses and carry-on bags; and two counts of illegally smuggling counterfeit goods into the United States.

The government is seeking forfeiture of the illicit proceeds of the enterprise, including funds that the defendants had transferred to bank accounts in the United States and overseas in the names of companies under their control, as well as three properties in New York. All of these assets had previously been frozen by court order.

At sentencing, scheduled for September 15, 2010, Lam and Chan each face a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count, 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for each trafficking count, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each smuggling count.

The total value of the corresponding authentic luxury goods manufactured by Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Coach, Fendi, Chanel, and others is estimated to be over $100 million.

This case is about economic identity theft and blatant disregard of the law, said U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride. These convictions reinforce the integrity of our nation’s intellectual property laws that the Eastern District of Virginia is committed to enforcing.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/jury-convicts-two-new-york-importers-one-largest-counterfeit-goods-prosecutions-us-history