Major Bust of Alleged Counterfeit Ring

Authorities say they've busted the largest merchandise counterfeit ring ever in Northwest Georgia.

Counterfeit schemes in both Dalton and Summerville led authorities to the multi-million dollar bust at the Gateway Mall in Fort Oglethorpe. Five people have been arrested in connection with the counterfeiting ring - all are believed to be illegal immigrants. We're told Qui Yi Zhang, who goes by the name Joey, is the business operator and was selling fake goods to Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and the Carolinas. Investigators say the fakes came from China via New York before making their way to our area.

"It's a substantial bust..probably the biggest in Northwest Georgia for sure..if not for the entire state of Georgia," Calhoun Police Chief Gary Moss says.

The final total could be as much as twenty million dollars. Authorities say it will take days to sort through Channel purses, a variety of Nike shoes, and two warehouses full of other fake goods. A trademark investigator says a lot of the fake merchandise is already out on the street which is exactly what companies like Channel and Nike don't want. And it turns out all of the good will be destroyed because again they violate companies trademarks.

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