Homeland Security Investigations brings counterfeit designers to heel

In order to protect consumers from deals that are too good to be true, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) served court orders seizing 16 domain names of websites selling counterfeit goods over the Internet. An upstate New York man was also arrested and charged for producing and selling counterfeit goods as part of the operation.

This project dubbed, "Shoe Clerk," is the sixth phase of "Operation In Our Sites," a sustained law enforcement initiative to protect consumers by targeting counterfeiting and piracy over the Internet.

The 16 domain names seized were commercial websites engaged in illegally selling and distributing counterfeit goods. 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, HSI agents obtained from federal magistrate judges 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 United States from suppliers in other countries using international express mail. The 16 websites have been shut down, and now show a banner stating that the domain name of that website has been seized by federal authorities.

The seized counterfeit items 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.

Following is a list of the 16 seized websites:

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

As part of the operation, Ryan Breen, 31, of Savannah, N.Y., was also 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.

This nationwide operation was spearheaded by the HSI-led National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center); HSI offices in Baltimore, Buffalo, Denver, Detroit and Houston; and in coordination with the following U.S. Attorneys' offices: District of Maryland, Western District of New York, District of Colorado, Eastern District of Michigan, and Southern District of Texas.

"American business is under assault from counterfeiters," said ICE Director John Morton. "These counterfeits represent a triple threat by delivering shoddy and sometimes dangerous goods into commerce, by funding organized criminal activities, and by denying Americans good-paying jobs. HSI and our partners at the IPR Center will continue to work together to keep counterfeit products off our streets."

"Legitimate creators, performers and craftspeople who grow and support the economy through their hard work and talents must have their intellectual property protected," said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr., Western District of New York. "In today's age, the theft of another's property, to include one's ideas, is just as likely to occur over the Internet as it is on the streets of a community. By using court-ordered warrants to 'seize' a particular website or domain, our office is using 21st century techniques to combat criminals operating in the virtual world."

"We take the protection of our intellectual property very seriously and we applaud the efforts of ICE in the battle against counterfeiting," commented Mei-lan Stark, 20th Century Fox Film Corporation's Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property. "We hope this arrest sends a clear message that stealing our valuable properties will not be tolerated."

In June 2010, HSI and the IPR Center began "Operation In Our Sites." Since the launch of this operation, HSI and the IPR Center have seized a total of 141 domain names and redirected those domain names to a seizure banner. Eighty-six of the 141 domain names seized have now been forfeited to the U.S. government. Through the forfeiture process, individuals who have an interest in the seized domain names are provided a period of time after the "Notice of Seizure" to file a petition with a federal court and additional time after the "Notice of Forfeiture" to contest the forfeiture. If no petitions or claims are filed, the domain names become property of the U.S. government.

Intellectual property rights violators unfairly devalue America's contributions, compromise American jobs, and put consumers, families, and communities at risk. Intellectual property rights are intended to discourage thieves from selling cheap imitations of products that are often far less safe or reliable than the original products. More importantly, intellectual property rights protect public safety by preventing the proliferation of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and other materials that are potentially harmful.

It is estimated that intellectual property theft costs American industry billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs every year. Additionally, "Operation In Our Sites" is also targeting counterfeit pharmaceuticals, software, electronics, games and other products that threaten public health and safety.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.