Canadian Pleads Guilty to Importing Knockoff Designer Bags
Ontario resident Wasseem Ramjaun pleaded guilty Sept. 4 to importing counterfeit goods, causing a "total loss" of $4,216,025, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York announced. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine.
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From October 2016 to August 2017, Ramjaun said he would provide an individual with authentic designer merchandise from Yeti, Vera Bradley and Lacoste despite not having permission to use the trademarks of these brands, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. In 2017, Ramjaun reached out to a Chinese manufacturer of counterfeit Vera Bradley bags for an order.
Ramjaun imported the fake bags into the U.S. via a port in western New York June 1-8, 2017, submitting a false manufacturing agreement to CBP. Sentencing is set for Dec. 11.