Last defendant accused of selling counterfeit goods may plead
Other six defendants resolve cases with minimal consequences
The lone remaining defendant in the case of counterfeit designer merchandise being sold at a Warren flea market may have his case resolved soon.
Seven people were arrested last June after Warren police seized about 2,000 fake designer products at the County Line Trade Center near Dequindre and Eight Mile roads. Items included purses, sunglasses and shoes, among other goods.
Mohammed Abdus Salam, who was the suspected ringleader, is the only defendant who remains charged with a felony of possession with intent to sell counterfeit merchandise, punishable by up to five years in prison. The other six defendants were charged with the same offense but either pleaded guilty to a reduced charge, a misdemeanor, in 37th District Court with virtually no penalty and/or had their case dismissed under a deferred sentencing, according to court records and an assistant Macomb County prosecutor.
The police special investigations unit identified four kiosks at the center selling counterfeit designer items including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace, Chanel, Coach, Armani, MCM, Ferragamo and Ray-Ban. After executing search warrants at the kiosks as well as two residences, police seized 379 counterfeit Louis Vuitton items, 1,643 additional counterfeit designer brand items and over $100,000 in cash.
Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Jacqueline Gartin said she and Salem’s attorney are working on a plea deal that will include destruction of the items. Some of the items were taken in a truckload by Warren police and other items remain at the trade center, she added.
“The (designer brand) companies just want these goods off the street,” Gartin said.
Salam is scheduled for a Feb. 23 hearing in front of Macomb Circuit Judge James Biernat Jr.