MiddletownJournal.com

MONROE — An investigation into knockoffs sold at a local flea market led to a warehouse raid that netted $15 million to $20 million in fake goods, believed to be the largest counterfeiting operation in Ohio's history.

Monroe police Detective Ken Parson said Monday, Aug. 25, that a search warrant was executed Friday, Aug. 22, at a 6,000-square-foot warehouse in Weathersfield Twp. in Trumbull County, which is near Youngstown in northeastern Ohio.

Parson said Monroe's investigation started in May after counterfeit products were found to be sold at the Traders World Flea Market.

Investigators from Monroe, the Trademark Enforcement Agency and Bruce Kingsland & Associates, retained by the trademark holders, eventually uncovered what is believed to be a primary supplier of counterfeit merchandise in Ohio and possibly the entire Midwest.

The warehouse was packed with counterfeit purses, wallets, jewelry, hats, gloves, shoes and scarves labeled as Coach, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Ed Hardy, John Deere, National Football League, Major League Baseball, The Ohio State University, Harley-Davidson, 3M, Playboy and other name brands, in addition to products that appeared to be knockoff toothpaste, batteries and cell phone accessories, Parson said.

All of the counterfeit merchandise was seized and will be inventoried and photographed by week's end, Parson said.

"This is the largest raid of its kind in the state of Ohio," Parson said. "These guys were major players."

Three suspects, all Chinese nationals who reside in the Queens area of New York City, were identified, he said. None has been charged.

Parson said he will be seeking direct indictment of the three suspects through Warren County Common Pleas Court on charges of engaging in corrupt activity, the state's version of federal racketeering charge.

"We'll take it to the grand jury sometime in the next month," he said. "This is a complex case and it's going to require a lot of time."

If the three suspects are eventually charged, they will face two to eight years in prison and possible deportation to China.

Two of the suspects are free for the moment, but one — believed to be in the country illegally — is in custody in the Youngstown area.

Parson said trademark enforcement investigators for years have heard rumors of a "Youngstown Connection" from New York City, but never before had any hard evidence.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or erichter@coxohio.com.