Authorities Seize More Than $150K Of Counterfeit Designer Items From Delco Store
MEDIA, Pa., (CBS) -- Two store owners have been arrested for allegedly selling counterfeit goods at a Chester retail store, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan announced Thursday.
Muhammad Bobbitt-Salaam, 29, and Abdel Salaam, 48, both of Chester, are charged with trademark counterfeiting, a felony of the second degree, and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities with the intent to promote, a felony of the first degree.
Whelan says a search warrant was executed around 9 a.m. Thursday at the People's Choice and Discount Clothing store at the 500 block of Avenue of the States.
According to Whelan, authorities seized more than $150,000 worth of counterfeit clothing, shoes, sunglasses and other items bearing brand names like Gucci, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton and Nike.
The arrests are a result of a year-long investigation conducted by agents with the Homeland Security Investigators (HSI) assigned to the Commercial Trade Fraud Investigators Philadelphia Office.
"Both legitimate businesses and consumers are cheated when low-quality fake goods unfairly compete against actual brands of known quality in the marketplace," Whelan said in a statement. "We are committed to investigating and prosecuting these types of illegal operations in Delaware County."
Bobbitt-Salaam and Salaam were arraigned on Thursday. Bail was set at ten percent of $10,000.