Johnston man arrested for counterfeiting merchandise
By News Staff
news@abc6.com
Rhode Island State police arrest and charge a man from Johnston with forgery and counterfeiting name brand merchandise on Friday morning.
The 47 year-old suspect, Richard Rufo, was also charged with possession of marijuana.
The investigation was commenced by the Mansfield, Massachusetts Police Department when they arrested Mr. Rufo on February 15th. It was reported that Rufo was selling counterfeited, bootlegged and trademark-infringed merchandise at a Sportscard & Memorabilia event at the Mansfield Holiday Inn.
The investigation was initiated by Powers and Associates of Forestdale, Massachusetts; a licensed property investigation agency that works for trademark owners as part of an ongoing anti-counterfeiting campaign.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Rufo was in possession of more than three hundred counterfeit items with an estimated retail price of $15,000.
Mansfield Police Department charged Mr. Rufo with Forgery & Counterfeiting Merchandise offenses and narcotics violations.
The investigation continued into Rhode Island when investigators determined that Mr. Rufo stored additional counterfeit merchandise at a warehouse in Smithfield.
A court-authorized search warrant was obtained authorizing members of the Rhode Island State Police to execute a search of the warehouse. Officials seized 1,164 counterfeit items from the warehouse. The items have an estimated retail value in excess of $112,000.
The counterfeit merchandise included assorted clothing, footwear and handbags. Some of the federally registered trademarks included Nike, Puma, Adidas, North Face, Ugg Australia, Michael Kors, Timberland, Coach, DC Comics, True Religion, Burberry, Polo-Ralph Lauren, Monster Energy, Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and National Hockey League.
Mr. Rufo was arraigned at Third District Court and released on $10,000 surety bail.
A person found guilty of a Forgery, Counterfeiting & Altered Trademark felony and upon conviction may be imprisoned up to five years and fined up to $10,000.
© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016
