New York man charged with supplying counterfeit goods to U.S. government
Editor's note: For the most recent developments on this story visit, 'Man who sold counterfeit uniforms to the RI National Guard sentenced to prison'
PROVIDENCE — A clothing and goods wholesaler from Brooklyn has been charged in U.S. District Court, Providence, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods in connection by selling more than $20 million dollars worth of Chinese-made counterfeit goods to the U.S. military and other government purchasers, as well as to other companies that supply the U.S. government.
The criminal information filing was announced Tuesday by the office of U.S. Attorney Aaron L. Weisman.
It alleges that Ramin Kohanbash, 49, and co-conspirators provided samples of actual military uniforms and gear to manufacturers in China to replicate.
It also alleges that Kohanbash and his co-conspirators provided, reviewed and approved photographs, descriptions, and samples of tags and labels to be attached to the knockoff products, so that the counterfeit versions appeared legitimate.
After being manufactured in China, the counterfeit goods were shipped to Kohanbash and sold to other wholesalers who ultimately marketed and sold them to military and government buyers off as genuine, American-made products, according to Weisman's office.
U.S. law requires that goods sold to the military must be manufactured in the United States or certain other designated countries, which do not include China.
Kohanbash is scheduled to appear June 12 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to five years in federal prison, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: New York man charged with supplying counterfeit goods to U.S. government
