Selling counterfeit goods is considered a federal offense because the products have crossed state lines and/or were purchased internationally from another country (e.g., China). Therefore, individuals purchasing goods from other countries and selling them on the black market as genuine designer products can be charged with a federal offense. A Tampa Bay Times article today documents the increase in awareness and arrests for selling counterfeit goods in the Bay Area.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation Begins Monitoring the Seller’s Activity
When the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) believes an individual (the target) is selling counterfeit items, they begin, what is referred to as, ‘dining out’ people who have been purchasing and/or selling items obtained from the target. Once you realize that the FBI is monitoring your activity, it is important that you hire an experienced, board certified Federal Criminal Defense Attorney like Ben Stechschulte, right away.
Hire an Experienced Federal Criminal Defense Attorney
The first thing that Attorney Ben Stechschulte will request is that you discontinue selling the suspect items immediately. He requests this to reduce your exposure because one of the main tactics the FBI uses is to state that you gained hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit by selling counterfeit goods.
Examining Your Books
Attorney Ben Stechschulte will want to examine your books to determine which profits are legal and which profits are suspect. This process is important as it can significantly reduce the amount of money you will have to pay, in addition to reducing the length of time you may spend incarcerated.
Presenting Your Case
Stechschulte Nell will also assist you in presenting your case as to why you believe the items you have been selling are not counterfeit. It is important to note that even if you inform the buyer that you are selling counterfeit goods you can still be charged with a felony offense because you are using the designer’s name (i.e., ‘Fake “Gucci” for Sale’) in an attempt to sell a product.
Regardless of where you reside, if you are in need of an experienced federal criminal defense attorney call us today for a free consultation. As a previous prosecutor, Criminal Defense Attorney Ben Stechschulte provides his clients with the experienced representation they need.
