A Jacksonville, Florida, man has been sentenced to federal prison for running a lucrative operation selling counterfeit luxury items online.
Jacksonville Beach resident David Joseph Gruber, aka ‘China Dave,’ was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and failure to appear.
Gruber, 53, pleaded guilty in March 2016 and was ordered to forfeit three pieces of real property located in Jacksonville, which are traceable to proceeds of the offenses.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also administratively forfeited $42,217.94 from accounts held by Gruber, which were further proceeds of his offenses.
According to court documents, Gruber owned and operated a website through which he and his wife sold goods and products bearing counterfeit trademarks owned by several high-end brands, including Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Rolex.
The products included handbags, watches, shoes, and clothing, and Gruber purchased several pieces of real property with proceeds from his trafficking in counterfeit goods.
Gruber’s wife, Xiao Ling Liu, aka Shally Gruber, was also charged for her role in this case but remains a fugitive.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
Gruber’s crimes impacted the economy and businesses, according to Susan L. McCormick, special agent in charge of HSI Tampa.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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