Thread: ICE and Europol seize 132 domain names selling counterfeit merchandise

ICE, European law enforcement agencies and Europol seize 132 domain names selling counterfeit merchandise in 'Project Cyber Monday 3' and 'Project Transatlantic' operations

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent this bulletin at 11/26/2012 11:35 AM EST

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), law enforcement agencies from Belgium, Denmark, France, Romania and the United Kingdom, and the European Police Office (Europol) seized 132 domain names today that were illegally selling counterfeit merchandise online to unsuspecting consumers.

The 132 domain names seized are part of Project Cyber Monday 3 and Project Transatlantic. These websites were set up to dupe consumers into unknowingly buying counterfeit goods as part of the holiday shopping season. The operation was coordinated by the ICE HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) in Washington, D.C.

This is the third year that the IPR Center has targeted websites selling counterfeit products online in conjunction with Cyber Monday. An iteration of Operation In Our Sites (IOS), Cyber Monday 3 seized 101 websites and yielded one arrest. Additionally, recognizing the global nature of Internet crime, this year the IPR Center partnered with Europol, who, through its member countries, executed coordinated seizures of foreign-based top-level domains such as .eu, .be, .dk, .fr, .ro and .uk. This effort is titled Project Transatlantic and resulted in 31 domain name seizures.

"This operation is a great example of the tremendous cooperation between ICE and our international partners at the IPR Center," said ICE Director John Morton. "Our partnerships enable us to go after criminals who are duping unsuspecting shoppers all over the world. This is not an American problem, it is a global one and it is a fight we must win."

The IPR Center and Europol received leads from various trademark holders regarding the infringing websites. Those leads were disseminated to eight investigating HSI field offices in Baltimore, Buffalo, Denver, El Paso, Newark, San Antonio, San Diego, and Ventura (Calif.) and to the investigating Europol member countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Romania and the United Kingdom.

"Europol became a member of the IPR Center this year and I am glad to be able to announce these operational successes," said Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol. "IPR theft is not a harmless and victimless crime. It can cause serious health and safety risks and it undermines our economy."

The domain names seized are now in the custody of the governments involved in these operations. Visitors typing those domain names into their Web browsers will now find a banner that notifies them of the seizure and educates them about the federal crime of willful copyright infringement.

In addition to the domain name seizures, officials identified PayPal accounts utilized by the infringing websites. Proceeds received through the identified PayPal accounts, in excess of $175,000, are currently being targeted for seizure by the investigating HSI field offices.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the opportunity to work closely with HSI to shut down criminals targeting our customers and our brand just as the holiday season takes off," said Tod Cohen, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Government Relations for eBay Inc. "PayPal and eBay Inc. pride ourselves in going above and beyond in the fight against the illegal online trafficking of counterfeit goods by partnering with law enforcement and rights owners globally, and we hope that this is fair warning to criminals that the Internet is not a safe place to try and sell fake goods."

During this operation, federal law enforcement officers made undercover purchases of a host of products; including professional sports jerseys, DVD sets, and a variety of clothing, jewelry and luxury goods from online retailers who were suspected of selling counterfeit products. If the copyright holders confirmed that the purchased products were counterfeit or otherwise illegal, seizure orders for the domain names of the websites that sold these goods were obtained from federal magistrate judges.

IOS is a sustained law enforcement initiative that began more than two years ago to protect consumers by targeting the sale of counterfeit merchandise on the Internet. The 101 domain names seized under Project Cyber Monday 3 bring the total number of IOS domain names seized to 1,630 since the operation began in June 2010. Since that time, the seizure banner has received more than 110 million individual views.

Of the 1,529 previous domain names seized, 684 have now been forfeited to the U.S. government. The federal forfeiture process affords individuals who have an interest in seized domain names a period of time after a "Notice of Seizure" to file a petition with a federal court and additional time after a "Notice of Forfeiture" to contest the forfeiture. If no petitions or claims are filed, the domain names become the property of the U.S. government. Additionally, a public service announcement, launched in April 2011, is linked from the seizure banner on each of the 684 forfeited websites.

The banner and video educate the public about the criminal consequences of trafficking in counterfeit goods and the economic impact that crime has on the U.S. and global economies.
U.S. Attorney's Offices in the Districts of Maryland, Colorado, New Jersey, Southern District of California, Central District of California, Western District of New York, and the Western District of Texas issued the warrants for the seizures. Significant assistance was provided by the Department of Justice's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.

The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. Working in close coordination with the Department of Justice Task Force on Intellectual Property, the IPR Center uses the expertise of its 21 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions, and conduct investigations related to IP theft. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public's health and safety, the U.S. economy and the war fighters.

To report IP theft or to learn more about the IPR Center, visit www.IPRCenter.gov.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

ICE, European law enforcement agencies and Europol seize 132 domain names selling counterfeit merchandise in 'Project Cyber Monday 3' and 'Project Transatlantic' operations

Now, when are they going to start busting the underground economy of the flea markets where the illegals sell tons of counterfeit merchandise. Everything from CD's to IDs.

Originally Posted by Newmexican

Now, when are they going to start busting the underground economy of the flea markets where the illegals sell tons of counterfeit merchandise. Everything from CD's to IDs.

They already do. It just doesn't get much coverage in the media.

ICE seizes more than $350,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise ...
... ICE seizes more than $350,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise, cosmetics at area swap meets. ICE seizes more than $350,000 worth of ...
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE seizes more than $350,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise, cosmetics at area swap meets

ICE seizes more than $40000 worth of fake NFL apparel at Honolulu ...
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE seizes more than $40,000 worth of fake NFL apparel at Honolulu swap meets

Intellectual Property Rights

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
News Releases...

Intellectual Property Rights Las Vegas, NV, ICE seizes more than 350,000 dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise, cosmetics at area swap meets · Image Icon images. 12/ 10/ ... U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement News Releases...

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Jan. 28, 2011 Jan 28, 2011 ... 27, 2011 - ICE seizes more than $40,000 worth of fake NFL apparel at Honolulu swap meets. With the Pro Bowl kickoff fast approaching, ICE ... U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Jan. 28, 2011

US, Mexico seize more than $80 million during Operation Holiday ...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
US, Mexico seize more than $80 million during Operation Holiday Hoax

US, Mexico seize more than $80 million during Operation Holiday ... Dec 22, 2011... with state and local law enforcement worked with trademark holders to target stores, flea markets and swap meets involved in the importation, ... U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement US, Mexico seize more than $80 million during Operation Holiday Hoax

ICE teams with NFL, CBP and area police to protect Super Bowl fans

... In the last month, ICE special agents working with local counterparts have dropped by stores, street vendors, flea markets and swap meets to ...
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE teams with NFL, CBP and area police to protect Super Bowl fans

ICE's Operation Faux Bowl results in seizure of more than $430,000 ...
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE's Operation Faux Bowl results in seizure of more than $430,000 in counterfeit items

Operation Holiday Hoax nets more than $26 million worth of ...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Operation Holiday Hoax nets more than $26 million worth of counterfeit goods

Operation Holiday Hoax nets more than $26 million worth of ... ... seek out and seize counterfeit merchandise sold by small businesses, stores, swap meets and flea markets. At the end of a week's time (Dec. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Operation Holiday Hoax nets more than $26 million worth of counterfeit goods

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
www.ice.gov/doclib/foia/prosecutorial-discretion/111118bcm.pdf

W File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat Nov 18, 2011 ... arrested at the Roadium swap meet in Torrance, CA "on suspicion of attempting to sell $100,000 worth of counterfeit makeup" that was labeled ... U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement www.ice.gov/doclib/foia/prosecutorial-discretion/111118bcm.pdf

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Dec. 17, 2010

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Dec. 17, 2010

ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Dec. 17, 2010 ICE seizes more than $350,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise, cosmetics at area swap meets. ICE HSI agents seized more than ... U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ICE's top 5 news stories for the week ending Dec. 17, 2010

I found a better list.

I.C.E.News Releases - Intellectual Property Rights

Date	Location	Title
11/26/2012	Washington, DC	ICE, European law enforcement agencies and Europol seize 132 domain names selling counterfeit merchandise in 'Project Cyber Monday 3' and 'Project Transatlantic' operations
11/19/2012	Baltimore, MD	Baltimore man pleads guilty to infringing the copyrights of more than 1,000 commercial software programs worth more than $4 million
11/19/2012	Newark, NJ	16 arrested in counterfeit merchandise investigation
11/16/2012	Jacksonville, FL	Texas business owner sentenced in counterfeit circuit breaker scheme
11/16/2012	Santa Ana, CA	HSI targets Orange County vendors suspected of selling designer knockoffs
11/9/2012	Alexandria, VA	Man sentenced to 36 months for $2.5M in software piracy
11/5/2012	Houston, TX	Distributor of counterfeit pharmaceuticals sentenced to 10 months in prison
11/2/2012	Norfolk, VA	2 members of Internet piracy group 'IMAGiNE' sentenced
10/29/2012	San Francisco, CA	HSI shuts out counterfeit dealers who hoped for World Series windfall
10/29/2012	Washington, DC	Federal agencies warn against counterfeit decorative contact lenses
10/24/2012	New Orleans, LA	HSI seizes nearly 800 counterfeit sports team hats, jerseys
10/23/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Los Angeles-area man sentenced for trafficking thousands of DVDs with counterfeit Dolby trademarks
10/22/2012	Charlotte, NC	North Carolina man pleads guilty to trafficking counterfeit airbags
10/19/2012	Asuncion, Paraguay, International	Paraguayan authorities, working with HSI, seize more than $34 million in counterfeit goods
10/16/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Lakewood man sentenced to more than 3 years for trafficking counterfeit computer software
10/15/2012	Detroit, MI	HSI arrests 2 in Metro Detroit counterfeit air bag probe
10/12/2012	Los Angeles, CA	New Zealand physician sentenced for trafficking in counterfeit erectile dysfunction drugs
10/11/2012	Orlando, FL	3 individuals charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods
10/10/2012	Washington, DC	NHTSA, ICE alert consumers to dangers of counterfeit air bags
10/10/2012	Seattle, WA	South Korean sentenced to more than 3 years for copyright infringement
10/4/2012	Washington, DC	HSI seizes 686 websites selling counterfeit medicine to unsuspecting consumers
10/3/2012	Philadelphia, PA	Pennsylvania man, store owner, sentenced to 44 months in prison for trafficking in counterfeit goods
10/1/2012	San Diego, CA	Florida man charged with selling $7 million of unapproved oncology drugs through San Diego pharmacy
9/28/2012	Fresno, CA	5 Fresno men charged in HSI probe targeting major counterfeit DVD trafficking scheme
9/20/2012	Houston, TX	Distributor of counterfeit pharmaceuticals sentenced to 21 months in prison
9/19/2012	Warwick, RI	Rhode Island man arrested for selling suspected counterfeit merchandise
9/11/2012	Buffalo, NY	New York City couple, 3 others plead guilty in connection with counterfeit Nike sneaker ring
8/29/2012	Norfolk, VA	Leader of Internet piracy group 'IMAGiNE' pleads guilty to copyright infringement conspiracy
8/29/2012	Crumpton, MD	HSI, local partners arrest man for selling counterfeit products at Maryland auction site
8/23/2012	Cleveland, OH	ICE, industry partner to combat brand theft
8/22/2012	San Juan, PR	HSI, local partners seize $18 million in counterfeit contact lenses and merchandise
8/17/2012	Washington, DC	Maryland man sentenced for criminal copyright infringement
8/16/2012	Orlando, FL	Florida man sentenced to prison for trafficking counterfeit Viagra and Cialis
8/14/2012	Peoria, IL	2 Illinois women sentenced for selling counterfeit goods
8/9/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Man convicted for role in international counterfeit drug distribution scheme
8/3/2012	Rockford, IL	3 Illinois men sentenced to federal prison for selling counterfeit goods
7/19/2012	Seattle, WA	Wash. man who sold pirated movies, Korean broadcasts online pleads guilty
7/19/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Major overseas supplier of phony pharmaceuticals pleads guilty to federal charges
7/19/2012	Houston, TX	Southeast Texas man pleads guilty to trafficking counterfeit goods
7/17/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Man who sold counterfeit erectile dysfunction drugs online receives prison time
7/13/2012	Washington, DC	Another member of Internet piracy group 'IMAGiNE' pleads guilty to copyright infringement conspiracy
7/12/2012	Washington, DC	ICE-led IPR Center seizes 70 websites duping consumers into buying counterfeit merchandise
7/12/2012	Kansas City, MO	HSI, Kansas City-area law enforcement seize more than $540,000 in fake MLB merchandise
7/11/2012	Washington, DC	IPR Center welcomes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as its 21st partner agency
6/28/2012	Baltimore, MD	Baltimore man indicted in scheme to reproduce and distribute more than 1,000 copyrighted commercial software programs worth over $4 million
6/22/2012	Norfolk, VA	Member of Internet piracy group 'IMAGiNE' pleads guilty to copyright infringement conspiracy
6/20/2012	New York, NY	HSI dismantles counterfeit cell phone operation, 3 arrested
6/19/2012	Memphis, TN	Memphis man pleads guilty in sale of counterfeit goods
6/18/2012	Denver, CO	Colorado attorney general announces 4 people indicted following the local seizure of nearly $300,000 in counterfeit cycling gear
6/15/2012	Greenbelt, MD	HSI seizes 2 websites offering fraudulent store and rewards coupons and related PayPal accounts
6/14/2012	Houston, TX	Houston jury convicts distributor of counterfeit pharmaceuticals
6/8/2012	Detroit, MI	$6.3 million settlement reached in False Claims Act case
6/8/2012	Laredo, TX	South Texas man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking in counterfeit goods
6/7/2012	Oklahoma City, OK	Counterfeit NBA merchandise seized from Oklahoma City stores
5/30/2012	Birmingham, AL	ICE seizes thousands of counterfeit items at Birmingham stores
5/29/2012	Washington, DC	Maryland man pleads guilty to copyright infringement
5/25/2012	Cleveland, OH	Indonesian man pleads guilty to selling illegally modified gaming devices
5/21/2012	Fresno, CA	4 Fresno residents sentenced for selling pirated DVDs and CDs
5/18/2012	Rochester, NY	Upstate New York man sentenced for importing counterfeit pharmaceuticals
5/11/2012	Washington, DC	More than $1.5M in proceeds seized from online sale of counterfeit sports apparel manufactured in China
5/10/2012	Norfolk, VA	Member of Internet piracy group 'IMAGiNE' pleads guilty to copyright infringement conspiracy
5/9/2012	San Jose, CA	San Jose store owner indicted for trafficking in counterfeit designer goods
5/8/2012	Philadelphia, PA	New Jersey woman sentenced for selling counterfeit cosmetics
5/8/2012	Washington, DC	Federal law enforcement agencies join movie industry to unveil new anti-piracy warning
5/3/2012	Baltimore, MD	HSI seizes more than $47 million in counterfeit merchandise at Patapsco Flea Market
4/27/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Los Angeles merchant charged with selling counterfeit designer accessories
4/26/2012	Peoria, IL	2 Illinois women plead guilty to selling counterfeit goods
4/26/2012	Fresno, CA	Fresno HSI seizes nearly $1 million worth of bootleg movies and music in probe targeting counterfeiting ring
4/25/2012	Baltimore, MD	5 indicted for allegedly selling counterfeit goods
4/24/2012	St. Louis, MO	2 Israeli men sentenced for smuggling counterfeit and misbranded pharmaceuticals into the United States
4/20/2012	El Paso, TX	ICE seizes nearly $900,000 in counterfeit merchandise at El Paso flea market
4/18/2012	Wilmington, DE	Chinese nationals charged with software piracy and exporting technology to China
4/10/2012	Washington, DC	More than $896,000 in proceeds seized from the online sale of counterfeit sports apparel manufactured in China
4/9/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Lakewood man charged with trafficking counterfeit computer software
3/9/2012	Tampa, FL	Tampa woman sentenced to 2 years for trafficking in counterfeit goods
3/7/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Feds arrest suspected large-scale smuggler of counterfeit sex drugs
3/2/2012	Newark, NJ	29 charged in New Jersey in international schemes to import counterfeit goods and drugs, launder profits
3/1/2012	Orlando, FL	Agents confiscate thousands of counterfeit goods at NBA All-Star Weekend
2/28/2012	Baltimore, MD	Bodog and 4 Canadian individuals indicted for conducting internet gambling business generating more than $100 million in sports gambling winnings
2/28/2012	Wichita Falls, TX	North Texas man sentenced to nearly 5 years in federal prison on copyright infringement conviction
2/23/2012	Tampa, FL	TOP STORY: HSI special agents seize $825,570 worth of counterfeit goods
2/22/2012	Washington, DC	Business manager sentenced for conspiring to sell counterfeit microelectronics to US military
2/21/2012	Washington, DC	Operation Global Hoax II nets tens of thousands of counterfeit goods in 43 country operation
2/16/2012	Chattanooga, TN	Man sentenced to 37 months for trafficking in counterfeit airbags
2/15/2012	Washington, DC	California business owner sentenced for conspiring to sell counterfeit microelectronics to the US military
2/9/2012	Tucson, AZ	ICE special agents seize estimated $1 million in counterfeit jewelry at Tucson gem show
2/8/2012	New Orleans, LA	Louisiana man sentenced for pirating CDs, DVDs
2/3/2012	Tampa, FL	HSI Tampa seizes more than $1 million worth of counterfeit goods
2/2/2012	Baltimore, MD	HSI agents arrests fugitive on copyright infringement charges
2/2/2012	New York, NY	Michigan man arrested for illegally streaming live sporting events over the Internet
2/2/2012	Indianapolis, IN	Agents and officers seize more than $4.8 million in fake NFL merchandise and seize 307 websites during 'Operation Fake Sweep'
1/24/2012	Washington, DC	IPR Center welcomes Europol as its 20th partner agency
1/13/2012	Los Angeles, CA	Los Angeles-area woman found guilty of trafficking more than 30,000 DVDs with counterfeit Dolby trademarks
1/9/2012	Washington, DC	CBP, ICE release report on 2011 counterfeit seizures
1/6/2012	Washington, DC	Leader of NinjaVideo.net website sentenced to 22 months in prison for criminal copyright conspiracy
1/3/2012	Philadelphia, PA	Local sportswear vendors lose their shirts in illegal sales at 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic

I.C.E.News Release

November 26, 2012
Buffalo, NY

Upstate New York man arrested, 15 websites seized as part of global crackdown on 'Cyber Monday'

BUFFALO, N.Y. – An upstate New York man was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with trafficking in counterfeit goods. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $2,000,000 fine. In addition, 15 websites allegedly selling counterfeit sporting merchandise were seized by federal law enforcement agents. The websites were seized as part of a global enforcement operation that targeted more than 130 websites operating worldwide. All of this is the result of an extensive investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to the criminal complaint, in August 2012, Gary C. Hammer, 47, of Cheektowaga, N.Y., listed Microsoft Vista Business and Microsoft Office software for sale on Craigslist. Further investigation determined that the merchandise being sold by the Hammer was counterfeit. Although the defendant was served Oct. 23 with a cease and desist letter from Microsoft Corporation, he continued to sell counterfeit Microsoft merchandise. He was arrested Nov 21.

Hammer made an initial appearance in court the same day as his arrest. He released on his own recognizance and is due back in court Dec. 12, 2012, at 11:00 a.m.

In a separate action, early this morning HSI special agents seized 15 websites that allegedly sold counterfeit sporting merchandise. According to the affidavit in support of the seizure warrants, some of the websites sold caps allegedly manufactured by New Era Cap, a Buffalo-based company.

"The manufacturing and selling of "knock off" goods hurts businesses and people across a wide spectrum of our society," said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr., Western District of New York. "Victims of these crimes include not only those who create intellectual property and the employees of the legitimate businesses who turn the ideas into products Consumers are also hurt by unknowingly obtaining inferior or potentially harmful products, as are taxpayers who are unable to rely on taxes from legitimate sales to fund programs which benefit the community. I would therefore urge all to exercise caution knowing that if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

"As we remind consumers, buying knockoffs doesn't pay off," said James C. Spero, special agent in charge of HSI Buffalo. "Those who sell counterfeit merchandise are robbing from the legitimate companies, many of them U.S.-based, that make these products. And perhaps most important, they're hurting the men and women who depend on those companies for their livelihood. Intellectual property theft amounts to economic sabotage, which is why HSI will continue to aggressively pursue product counterfeiters and those who sell counterfeit products."

The arrest and seizures are part of Project Cyber Monday 3 and Project Transatlantic, both efforts to crack down on counterfeit goods sold online during the holiday shopping season. They are the culmination of an investigation on the part of HSI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo and Kevin D. Robinson, Western District of New York, are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the U.S. government.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• DHS.gov
• USA.gov

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1211/121126buffalo.htm

$425,000 in counterfeit merchandise seized at Bessemer Flea Market

By Sarah A. McCarty | smccarty@al.comThe Birmingham News
on December 08, 2012 at 7:05 PM, updated December 08, 2012 at 7:22 PM


HSI agents seized counterfeit items including designer clothes and sports jerseys from vendors at the Bessemer Flea Market Saturday morning. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Authorities seized 3,500 counterfeit items that add up to a retail price of $425,000 at the Bessemer Flea Market Saturday morning.

Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) targeted 35 vendors selling counterfeit designer clothing, counterfeit CDs/DVDs and counterfeit sportswear. Bryan Cox, public affairs officer for ICE, has said agents were only targeting vendors in the bust, not the flea market itself.

The bust occurred around 11 a.m. and was the result of an ongoing federal investigation. The Homewood Police Department and the Hoover Police Department assisted in the operation. Also involved in the bust were U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who provided aerial surveillance and state law enforcement officers from the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and Department of Public Safety.

A total of 3,500 counterfeit items were seized during the bust at Bessemer Flea Market. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

"Counterfeit products cost law-abiding Americans their jobs by depriving legitimate companies of sales they would otherwise make," said Special Agent in Charge of HSI New Orleans Raymond R. Parmer. "This is a problem that affects everyone.

Criminals who sell counterfeit products don't pay taxes that go to supporting healthcare, paving roads and providing other vital government services. They are parasites on the legitimate businesses that drive our economy."

The operation by HSI to target counterfeit vendors nationwide is part of two national initiatives - Operation Red Zone and Operation Holiday Hoax.

Operation Red Zone targets the illegal sale of counterfeit sports merchandise. Last year HSI New Orleans, which includes Alabama, led the nation in counterfeit NFL seizures with more than 7,100 items at an MSRP of more than $1 million. As the host city of the upcoming Super Bowl, Parmer said HSI special agents are particularly focused on the identification and seizure of counterfeit sports memorabilia ahead of the game.

Operation Holiday Hoax, conducted by the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center), is an annual operation that targets the sale of counterfeit and pirated merchandise during the holiday season. Holiday Hoax targets counterfeit apparel, DVDs/CDs, toys and personal electronics.

For more information on the IPR Center visit www.IPRCenter.gov.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/12/425000_in_counterfeit_merchand.html

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