Suffolk County authorities say they’ve busted five suspects running an international trademark counterfeiting ring that sold fashionable knockoff pocketbooks, apparel, sunglasses and other items across the country.
Federal and local investigators seized truckloads of items bearing the trademark brands of North Face, Uggs, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Oakley, Nike, Kate Spade, Prada, Tiffany and other manufacturers following raids on Queens storage facilities, authorities said.
“Every item imported by these defendants was counterfeit,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Tom Spota. “They arranged and supervised shipments of cheap knock offs while using the labels, logos and signature look of successful manufacturers and designers in the fashion industry.”
He said the quintet imported the fake goods from plants in China, stored it in Queens warehouses and distributed to resellers in across New York and the nation, including Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia and California.
All five suspects have been indicted on conspiracy and trademark counterfeiting charges. They include 42-year-old Chee “Jimmy” Kwan Yim, 39-year-old Chee “Janice” Kuen Yim, 44-year-old Chee “Steve” Ching Yim and 28-year-old Regina Ngan—who all lived together in Little Neck—and Anthony Moresco, 63, of New Jersey.
All five except for Ngan were also charged with enterprise corruption. Jimmy and Janice were also charged with money laundering. All five have pleaded not guilty.
