US busts Philly vendors for fake NHL, NBA, NFL gear: Update
Immigration and Customs Enforcement joins Philly cops to protect "the reputation of trademark holders like the NHL" from the threat of cheaper knockoff team jerseys by Chinese makers.
US busts Philly vendors for fake NHL, NBA, NFL gear: Update
Joseph N. DiStefano
Updated: Federal immigration agents were busy in Philly over the weekend, seizing mail-order pro hockey team-themed gear to protect team owners and their lucrative franchising deals from cheap unlicensed knockoffs offered by vendors, merchants and unlicensed China-based manufacturers.
In connection with the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held here, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit says it grabbed "1,649 counterfeit items with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of nearly $350,000" from Philadelphia vendors since Dec. 28.
Says ICE: "HSI special agents - working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Philadelphia Police Department Major Crimes Unit, and the National Hockey League (NHL) and its private investigators - seized approximately 150 international mail parcels and investigated nine vendors since Dec. 28, 2011. "ICE HSI also seized counterfeit items bearing the trademarks of Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Basketball Association and the National Collegiate Athletic Association." ICE special agent in charge John P. Kelleghan said the government was protecting "the reputation of trademark holders like the NHL" against cheaper counterfeits "in China." So far, "nobody has been charged. We are still getting additional seizures," he told me. His group expects to report to the US Attorney's Office and the Philadelphia Police Department for possible prosecution. "The money made from this is all dirty money."
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Dios Mio....— elfman- not a story...do your job at every sporting event and i'll care— tkohl
- Wanna bet at least $1 million in salaries was spent on these pinches? Just think if that manpower was put to use protecting the citizens of Philadelphia who risk death from the gunshots of drug dealers every night and day?
The government works for the 1%'ers, not for us. It's as plain as the nose on your face.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt - Gitmo— sillybilly
- Im tired of paying $30 for a Flyers t-shirt. This war against street vendors is merely usurping the free market. You know that when Ron Paul wins in 2012, he'll stop the witch hunt. If you want cheap sports merchandise, then Ron Paul is your man. Honestly, if he can get past the backwater sports towns of Ames and Manchester, Ron Paul just might clean up in the larger market cities, especially if he stumps heavily on this issue.— everydayguy
- Meth Labs, Crack Houses, Drug Dealers galore, Philly tops in Homicides (again), Operation Fast and Furious.....and law enforcement is protecting the Mega sport's industry.....yea, makes sense!— STEPHEN1988
- I bought a ton of unlicensed NFL, MLB, and NHL jerseys while overseas in Korea-I think they were 10-15 bucks each. The quality, labels, etc. is too close to notice to feel the need to spend $250-300 bucks for Mitchell and Ness. I don't feel the least bit bad about it either. If only they had the same zest for drug dealers.— kjuggs77
- The Bush influence is still felt with the federal Gestapo out there violating the rights of all persons. It is sickening what Bush and the Republicans have done to this country. Yet, all Fox News says to do is blame the black president because, well, he's black, and you know how those darkies are.— eldiablodelsol2009
- "Free market" all right. State sanctioned price gouging is all it is. I'll make sure to go out of my way to buy all the knockoff merch I can.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
- Diablo, you have serious, serious problems. Get help.— Echo
- I have always felt that if law enforcement did as much to protect regular citizens as they do rich celebrities( remember the guy who got 7 years for the Erin Andrews hotel videotaping;you think if that was your sister the same creep would get 7 years?) or big businesses, that everyone would be safer.— drbob1
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- Hey, everyday, that hurt to the quick! Manchester back water?! I can't and won't speak for Ames, but we New Englanders are, well, sorta proud of Manchester. We have almost as many people as Roxborough and Manayunk have combined in Manchester's environs. And indeed the hockey Monarchs and the baseball Fisher Cats are almost always near the top of their respective divisions; certainly they are perennial playoff teams, unlike the Sixers. And the fans up here don't have to pay those Mitchell and Neff prices to advertise for the local teams. Then again, everyday, you could be right. If only we could pay such prices, we'd be big time too.— Brian E. Breslin
