Almost half a million dollars worth of fake Air Jordans, Uggs seized at NC flea market
Police did a sweep of a North Carolina flea market and found almost half a million dollars worth of counterfeit shoes, handbags and watches, according to the state Secretary of State.
State agents with the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force led the search at The Flea in Greensboro and found knock-off Rolex watches, Gucci bags, Air Jordan sneakers and UGG boots.
“This enforcement sweep took counterfeit products with an estimated retail value of nearly half a million dollars off Greensboro’s streets,” state Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said in a press release.
“Counterfeit products do real economic harm to legitimate manufacturers and merchants, pose a health and safety hazard to consumers, and can help fund organized crime,” she said.
The state estimated the haul of fake designer products was worth about $460,000. “The estimated retail value is the amount the genuine trademarked items would sell for,” the state said.
Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations and officers with the Greensboro Police Department helped with the raid.
According to the N.C. Secretary of State, “Ramon Vararro Poteat, 60, of Browns Summit, and Alhage Mohammed Secka, 51, of Raleigh were each charged with one count of felony criminal use of a counterfeit trademark. Three other flea market vendors were charged with misdemeanor trademark violations: Evette Delynn Daouda, 53, of Greensboro; Felicia Dianne Able, 46, of Greensboro; and Joey Ray Willis, 39, of Danville, Virginia.”
