NEW YORK (AP) — Federal authorities in New York City have announced the largest U.S. seizure of counterfeit goods, consisting of handbags, shoes and other luxury merchandise valued at more than $1 billion.
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Two people were charged with trafficking the knockoffs from a New York City storage unit and other locations from January through October, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.
Photographs released by prosecutors showed shelves stacked with counterfeit wallets and bags in one location and handbags hanging from hooks from floor to ceiling in another.
“The seizures announced today consist of merchandise with over a billion dollars in estimated retail value, the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.
The two men charged could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
These street knockoffs use to serve a purpose. They allowed access to high end brands to people who could otherwise not afford or weren’t willing to shell out the msrp. Granted they were knockoffs but some were so good that your couldn’t tell the difference. But nowadays, all you have to do is walk into your local Bergdoff and walk out with whatever your heart desires. So I don’t understand the current market.
All these knockoffs are actually the reason why I wouldn’t spend more than $200 on a handbag. Why pay $2500 when ppl walking around with the fake ones for $100.
Anyway all these “branded” bags and wallets in my opinion are corny by now
It’s basically 50 million. But they are using the msrp for the propaganda to make it into a b billion
Just another war on New York businesses.
Oy Gevalt!!! Now a lot of Frumma Yidden won’t be able to make good on their Rosh Hashanah pledges.