Related Federal Cases
Counterfeit Kingpin Sentenced to Prison
Baltimore, Maryland – In a major blow to the city’s counterfeit goods trade, Liang Lin has been sentenced to prison for trafficking in counterfeit goods.
Lin, who owned and operated two shops on the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit goods. He sold counterfeit merchandise, including purses, handbags, shirts, jewelry, perfume, hats, and shoes that bore trademarks such as Michael Kors, Nike, Monster, Coach, Gucci, Versace, Vera Wang, Louis Vuitton, and Channel.
Law enforcement made several seizures of counterfeit trademarked merchandise from Lin and his stores. The retail value of the counterfeit trademarked merchandise seized from and sold by Lin is between $200,000 and $400,000. The estimated retail value of the counterfeit merchandise, based on what Lin was selling the infringing counterfeit items for, is $153,585.
Lin is not the only one to face charges for trafficking in counterfeit goods. Jerold Lee Sharoff has been indicted for conspiring to, and trafficking in counterfeit goods, and counterfeit labels. Sharoff operated Beachwear Outlet and Surf Beachwear, both on Atlantic Avenue in Ocean City, where the indictment alleges that he sold counterfeit trademarked merchandise.
Sharoff also allegedly stored counterfeit goods at a warehouse located in Ocean City. Further, the indictment alleges that Sharoff and his co-conspirators manufactured counterfeit t-shirts by applying heat transfers bearing counterfeit trademarks to t-shirts using heat presses. Sharoff is scheduled to go to trial on October 21, 2013.
Several other defendants have pleaded guilty to trafficking in trademarked counterfeit goods, such as Nike, Coach, Gucci, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Tory Burch, Juicy, Prada, Christian Dior, Ed Hardy, Burberry, and Dolce & Gabbana, with losses estimated at between $10,000 and $30,000.
In related news, Keith Jackson pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit purses, handbags, and watches. He was arrested three times for selling counterfeit goods before being charged federally. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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