“ICE Probe Leads To Arrest Of Bakersfield Retailer”

ICE Probe Leads To Arrest Of Bakersfield Retailer

Posted: 15 Feb 2011 11:08 AM PST

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POSTED: 11:01 am PST February 15, 2011

UPDATED: 12:29 pm PST February 15, 2011

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Bakersfield retailer is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday afternoon on charges stemming from a long-term investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations into allegations he trafficked in counterfeit goods.Eric Huggins, 51, owner of a Bakersfield shop called Girlfriends by Design, was arrested Monday by ICE HSI agents based on a criminal complaint issued earlier this month.According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, the investigation targeting Huggins began after ICE HSI received a tip that the shop owner was selling counterfeit merchandise. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of California.

In December 2009, an ICE HSI agent posing as a customer bought several counterfeit items from Girlfriends by Design, which was located, at the time, on Ming Avenue. While making the purchase, the undercover agent asked Huggins about a bin containing unlabeled purses. According to the affidavit, the defendant told the agent he could "put any logo" on the purses … "Prada, Gucci or whatever logo."Three months later, in March 2010, ICE HSI agents executed search warrants at the original Girlfriends by Design shop on Ming Avenue and at the businesses' new downtown location on 19th Street. In addition, agents searched Huggins' Bakersfield home.The searches resulted in the confiscation of more than $140,000 in counterfeit clothing and accessories bearing the labels of well-known designer brands such as Chanel, Coach, Prada, Dooney & Bourke, Burberry, True Religion, Kate Spade, Juicy Couture and others, agents said. In addition, agents also seized numerous items of counterfeit sports apparel and merchandise, including goods purportedly made by Adidas and Reebok. The estimated value of the seized goods is based on what the items would have sold for had they been genuine."People need to realize that the sale and purchase of counterfeit goods is not a victimless crime," said Michael Toms, resident agent in charge of the ICE HSI in Bakersfield. "Commercial piracy and product counterfeiting undermine the U.S. economy, rob Americans of jobs, stifle American innovation and promote other types of crime."In addition to the two stores, the affidavit alleges Huggins also sold counterfeit goods from the back of a vehicle in the parking lots of various Bakersfield businesses. Much of that merchandise was counterfeit professional sports apparel, including phony NBA and NFL jerseys.Huggins' will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Thurston at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The charge of trafficking in counterfeit goods carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million.As the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE HSI plays a leading role in targeting criminal organizations responsible for producing, smuggling, and distributing counterfeit products. ICE HSI focuses not only on keeping counterfeit products off U.S. streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind the activity.

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