Waterbury man accused of selling counterfeit watches

A Waterbury resident was among three men arrested Wednesday on federal charges accusing them of importing counterfeit luxury watches from China and selling them on the web.

Izedin Kimca, 24, of Waterbury, Denis Nako, 24, of Worcester, and his brother, Klevis Nako, 23, of Worcester, were each charged with trafficking in and conspiring to traffic in counterfeit goods and services, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

The charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. According to federal officials, Kimca also faces one count of engaging in illegal monetary transactions, which also carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Federal officials allege Kimca, Denis Nako and Klevis Nako operated multiple websites, Instagram pages and Facebook pages to advertise and sell counterfeit watches imported from China.

During the investigation, authorities allegedly made multiple undercover purchases of counterfeit Rolex watches from several of the Instagram accounts. Each watch was sold for between $200 to $300.

According to federal officials, the proceeds of the sales were allegedly deposited into bank accounts belonging to Kimca, Denis Nako and Klevis Nako — who officials say works as a police officer with the Framingham State University Police Department in Massachusetts.

Between April 2020 to July 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reportedly seized about 74 parcels addressed to Kimca or one of his aliases that contained counterfeit luxury watches, including those purporting to be a Rolex, Audemars and Panerai, officials said. Had the watches been authentic, officials said their total estimated value would have been more than $16 million based on the suggested retail price.

Additionally, Customs and Border Protection seized about 22 parcels addressed to the residence of Denis and Klevis Nako between February 2021 to April 2022, according to officials. These packages reportedly contained counterfeit watches purported to be Rolex and Cartier brands. Their estimated worth had they been authentic would have been more than $3 million.

In January 2023, agents with Homeland Security Investigations interviewed Kimca about trafficking counterfeit watches and advised him that selling counterfeit watches was illegal, officials said. Kimca also had received several notices from Customs and Border Protection indicating watches had been seized. Despite the interview and the notices, which detailed the potential violations associated with importing these items, Kimca allegedly continued to sell counterfeit watches, according to officials.

Following his arrest, Kimca appeared Wednesday in federal court in New Haven. Denis Nako and Klevis Nako appeared in federal court in Hartford.

All three men were released on $50,000 bonds.