GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - Federal agents seized nearly half a million dollars worth of counterfeit shoes, handbags and watches at a Greensboro flea market, according to the North Carolina Secretary of State.
Knock-off Rolex watches, Gucci purses, Air Jordan sneakers and Ugg boots were among the merchandise recovered by agents with the Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force during a raid last weekend at The Flea in Greensboro, news outlets reported on Monday.
The fake designer products were estimated to be worth a retail value of about $460,000 collectively, according to a statement from North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.
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, Marshall’s office confirmed. Three other flea market vendors were charged with misdemeanor trademark violations.
Marshall said counterfeit products hurt legitimate manufacturers, pose health and safety hazards and in some cases can help fund organized crime.
Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations and officers with the Greensboro Police Department assisted in the raid.
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