$1 Million Counterfeit Goods Seized on Atlantic City Boardwalk, Two Arrested

Here's why you couldn't find $12 Blake Shelton concert t-shirts being sold on the Atlantic City Boardwalk Saturday afternoon.

Two local men were arrested and over $1 Million worth of counterfeit designer merchandise were seized Thursday following a two month investigation.

New Jersey State Police say Mohammad Usman, 35, of Egg Harbor Township, and Kashif Ansari, 32, of Atlantic City, were arrested after search warrants were issued at several stores on the boardwalk. Both were charged with criminal simulation and trademark counterfeiting, and have been released pending court appearances.

“The sale of counterfeit designer merchandise cheats consumers, harms honest retailers, and results in major losses for the retail industry,” said Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. “Atlantic City is an important entertainment destination and these efforts to root out counterfeit merchandise help keep it consumer-friendly.”

 

“Working with the State Police and additional partners, we regularly prosecute cases involving counterfeit goods and cargo theft, both of which disrupt commerce and ultimately harm consumers,” said Director Veronica Allende of the Division of Criminal Justice. “I commend all of the agencies that collaborated to achieve this major seizure of alleged counterfeit goods and bring charges against these two merchants.”

 

“The sale and purchase of counterfeit goods is not only a crime against the consumer, but it can potentially cripple the retail industry as a whole,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police. “A seizure of this magnitude could not have been made possible without the unwavering efforts of the Interstate Theft South Unit detectives in collaboration with our law enforcement partners.”

SOURCE: New Jersey State Police