Source:
handout
/
Department
of
Justice
Federal
authorities
have
made
a
significant
dent
within
the
counterfeit
industry.
Over
$1
billion
dollars
worth
of
fake
goods
were
seized
in
New
York
City.
Raw
Story
is
reporting
that
a
national
task
force
has
made
it
into
the
record
books
when
it
comes
to
the
black
market.
On
Wednesday
(Nov.
15)
prosecutors
announced
their
biggest
bust
in
history
stating
that
their
work
has
resulted
in
the
“largest
ever
seizure
of
counterfeit
goods
in
U.S.
history.”
Over
200,000
items
were
hauled
during
the
bust,
which
roughly
translates
to
over
a
billion
dollars
in
retail
value.
The
items
ranged
from
knockoff
purses,
shoes,
hats,
belts,
smell
goods
and
other
accessories.
U.S.
Attorney
Damian
Williams
said:
“As
alleged,
the
defendants
used
a
Manhattan
storage
facility
as
a
distribution
center
for
massive
amounts
of
knock-off
designer
goods.
The
seizures
announced
today
consist
of
merchandise
with
over
a
billion
dollars
in
estimated
retail
value,
the
largest-ever
seizure
of
counterfeit
goods
in
U.S.
history.
This
is
a
testament
to
the
commitment
of
this
Office
and
its
law
enforcement
partners
to
combat
counterfeit
trafficking
in
New
York
City.”
New
York
Police
Department
Commissioner
made
it
clear
that
the
counterfeit
industry
is
a
plague
to
the
safety
of
citizens
and
those
who
work
in
this
underworld
alike.
“The
trafficking
of
counterfeit
goods
is
anything
but
a
victimless
crime
because
it
harms
legitimate
businesses,
governments,
and
consumers,”
he
said
in
a
statement,
according
to
the
Department
Of
Justice.
“Today’s
indictments
show
how
seriously
the
NYPD
and
our
federal
partners
take
this
offense.
And
we
will
continue
to
work
hard
to
hold
accountable
anyone
who
seeks
to
benefit
by
selling
such
items
on
the
black
market.”
Adama
Sow
and
Abdulai
Jalloh
aka
“Troy
Banks”
are
alleged
to
be
running
this
operation.
Both
have
been
arrested
and
charged
for
trafficking
the
fake
items
which
carries
a
maximum
sentence
of
10
years
in
prison.
