Ramin Kohanbash, Counterfeit Goods, Rhode Island 2023

A Brooklyn, N.Y., clothing and goods wholesaler has admitted to participating in a conspiracy that sold over $20 million worth of Chinese-made counterfeit goods to the United States military, government purchasers, and companies that supply the U.S. government.

Ramin Kohanbash, 49, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence, Rhode Island, to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods on today.

Among the items that Kohanbash and others arranged to counterfeit were 200 military parkas of a type used by U.S. Air Force personnel stationed in Afghanistan. These parkas were falsely represented to be genuine Multicam, a fabric which incorporates specialized near-infrared management technology designed to make the wearer more difficult to detect with equipment such as night-vision goggles.

Other items carried labels that made explicit, and false, representations about the product’s safety. In one case, labels on counterfeit hoods intended for military and law enforcement personnel stated that the items were “permanently flame resistant,” and that they met a specific industry standard for flame-resistant attire. In reality, the counterfeit hoods were not flame resistant.

“Our men and women in uniform confront danger every day to defend this nation and its values,” said U.S. Attorney Weisman. “The uniforms they wear and the gear they carry are meant to protect them as they carry out their mission, not to put them in harm’s way. This case should serve notice that suppliers who do business with the military must comply with the law, or they will be held to account.”

Kohanbash admitted to the Court that he and others provided, reviewed, and approved photographs, descriptions, and samples of tags and labels to be attached to the knockoff products, so that the counterfeit versions appeared legitimate. Trademarks and brand names of actual U.S.-made products were added to the foreign counterfeit versions to make them appear legitimate.

The goods were shipped from China to Kohanbash and sold to other wholesalers who ultimately marketed and sold the knock-off products to military and government buyers as genuine, American-made products.

Under two U.S. laws known as The Berry Amendment and the Trade Agreements Act (“TAA”), goods sold to the military and certain other government buyers are required to be manufactured in the United States and certain other designated countries; China is not one of those countries. In order to sell the counterfeit goods, Kohanbash provided wholesalers who did business with the government with false certification letters claiming that the goods were made in the U.S., and therefore complied with the Berry Amendment. In other instances, Kohanbash falsely represented that the goods met TAA requirements.

Kohanbash further admitted that the Government is entitled to forfeit $20 million representing proceeds of the offenses, along with actual counterfeit goods seized during the investigation.

Ramin Kohanbash, Counterfeit Goods, Rhode Island 2023

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods

City and State: Providence, Rhode Island

Date: Not specified, but likely related to today’s guilty plea

Sentence or Outcome: Kohanbash pleaded guilty and is subject to forfeiture of $20 million and actual counterfeit goods seized during the investigation

Dollar Amounts: Over $20 million worth of counterfeit goods sold to the US military and government

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/pr/wholesaler-admits-conspiracy-manufacture-and-sell-counterfeit-goods-us-military