Then the supposed bargain landed shopkeeper Justin Coale in Montgomery County Court.

Prosecutors say Coale hawked fake Nikes and home-duplicated CDs at cut rates, and the accused knockoff vendor now faces prison, a fine or both on a series of criminal charges.

"There are probably thousands across the commonwealth," District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said of Coale's retail operation. "The only way for us to get to the manufacturer is to start with the little guy and work our way up the chain."

Flanked by open boxes displaying some of the 114 pairs of fake Nikes seized from Coale's shop on March 12, Ferman said Souderton police were tipped off by Nike, which had gotten complaints and sent investigators to learn if phony shoes were behind the discount prices.

"I wouldn't know it's counterfeit, but Nike knows," Ferman said.

Coale told police the fake shoes came from varied sources in New York City, but he didn't name his suppliers, Ferman said. His markup, according to court records: the fake Air Force Ones he bought for $25 and bogus Air Jordans for $30 were resold at $60 and $80 respectively - still cheaper than the legitimate retail cost of $75 and $120.

"It's really hard to say what each individual customer thought they were purchasing" given the prices, Ferman said.

Coale was arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Kenneth E. Deatelhauser on counterfeiting, fraud and other counts. He was released on $5,000 bail.

His Street Wear store was open yesterday.

"Mr. Coale is just a little guy in a little storefront," said his attorney, Marc Steinberg.

The case is due back in court March 25.