Police in Newark NJ recently arrested two men accused of possessing more than 12,000 stolen and counterfeited CDs and DVDs at local businesses.
According to law enforcement, a 44-year-old Irvington New Jersey resident and a 50-year-old Newark NJ resident had counterfeit items with a combined value of more than $65,000.
Several different law enforcement agencies and departments, both federal and local, worked together on a lengthy investigation into the suspects. The investigation, which lasted six months, included the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Intellectual Property Task Force and the Department of Homeland Security.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the Essex County Intellectual Property Crimes Unit and task force conducted raids on two stores in Newark, New Jersey. The raids were carried out at K&K General Merchandise, located on William Street, and Dollar City General Store, located on Springfield Avenue.
The suspects now face serious charges for counterfeiting and pirating. If the suspects are ultimately convicted on the theft and fraud crimes, they would face severe penalties.
Although counterfeiting and piracy are often perceived as “victimless” crimes, the reality is that these crimes have serious adverse consequences on law-abiding citizens.
An assistant prosecutor with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said that prosecutors intend to seek convictions in the case because counterfeiting “has a negative impact on those who work rightfully behind the counters, thus robbing them of the proceeds they are entitled to for the work they’ve done.”
To learn more about this case, access NJ.com article entitled “Bust Finds $65K Worth of Counterfeit CDs, DVDs in 2 Newark Stores, Authorities Say.”
