ICE Seizes 16 Domain Names of Sites Selling Counterfeit Apparel, Etc.
On July 28, 2011, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that it has seized 16 domain names of websites illegally selling and distributing counterfeit goods over the Internet and arrested a New York man for producing and selling counterfeit goods using a trademark brand without permission.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
(This operation marks the sixth phase of "Operation in Our Sites," a sustained law enforcement initiative aimed at counterfeiting and piracy over the Internet, which began in June 2010.)
Counterfeits Were Shipped to U.S. from Suppliers Abroad Using Int'l Express Mail
During the course of the operation, federal law enforcement agents made undercover purchases from online retailers suspected of selling counterfeit goods. Purchased counterfeit items included shoes, boots, sneakers, jackets, shirts, hats and sunglasses.
Once the materials were confirmed to be counterfeit or otherwise illegal, ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) agents obtained seizure orders for the domain names of the websites that sold or distributed the items. In most instances, the counterfeit goods were shipped directly into the U.S. from suppliers in other countries using international express mail.
Man Arrested for Selling Counterfeit T-Shirts Using Fox Broadcasting Trademark
As part of the operation, Ryan Breen, of New York, was arrested and charged with using the Internet to traffic in counterfeit goods. Breen was identified as the owner and operator of a website seized in this operation that sold unauthorized apparel from the FX Network series "Sons of Anarchy." The website offered counterfeit t-shirts for sale using the show's trademark brand without the permission of the Fox Broadcasting Company. If convicted, Breen faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine.
Counterfeit Items Represent 13 Brands: Gucci, Nike, Lacoste, Etc.
The counterfeit items seized in this operation represent 13 name brands: Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Lacoste, New Era, Nike, The North Face, Oakley, PUMA, Ralph Lauren, Ray-Ban, Sons of Anarchy, Tory Burch and UGG.
The websites seized during this phase of the operation include:
- discountedoakleysunglasses.com
- onlypuma.com
- ralphlauren-polos.org
- solesold.com
- toryburchsoutlets.org
- toryburchsoutletsale.net
- ventma.com
- choosepuma.com
- ebayshoppingjoy.com
- lacosteshoesmall.com
- menlacosteshoes.com
- newerahatsnow.com
- newerahatss.com
- pumaforever.com
- replicaoakleysunglasses.net
- shoplacosteshoes.com
(See ITT's Online Archives or 05/26/11, 02/16/11, and 11/30/10 news, 11052615, [Ref:11021626, and 10113028, for BP summaries of ICE seizing domain names as part of "Operation in Our Sites.")