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PICA: Seizure of More Than $10 Million in Counterfeits Linked to Drug Trafficking in Cleveland
| Source: PICA
CLEVELAND, OH--(Marketwire - December 17, 2007) - PICA investigators discovered a number of
retail stores in the greater Cleveland area selling counterfeit products
and alerted federal authorities. The year-long investigation culminated on
December 3, 2007, when PICA, along with greater Cleveland law enforcement
and the FBI and ICE, served search warrants and cease and desist orders to
five 360 Clothing Studios stores and one Jazzy Looks location. This
investigation ultimately led to the seizures and voluntary surrenders of
approximately $10 million in counterfeit products, drugs and stolen
property, making it one of the largest investigations of its kind in
northeast Ohio.
In total, PICA recovered more than 25,000 pieces of counterfeit footwear,
40,000 pieces of counterfeit apparel, two kilos of cocaine and 200 pounds
of marijuana. Ten people were arrested for drug trafficking, burglary,
receiving stolen property, weapons violation, trademark counterfeiting and
criminal simulation.
"The 360 Clothing Studios were one of the largest suppliers of counterfeit
footwear and apparel in the greater Cleveland area. They attempted to
legitimize counterfeit product by introducing it into retail stores in the
area," said Tim Richissin, PICA operative.
In addition, this case also included IS Fashions, LIVE, US Wireless
(Lorain), US Wireless (Oberlin), AA Wireless, Nesy's, T's Urban Gear and
Urban Wireless.
About PICA Corporation
PICA Corporation, established in 1982, is one of the largest companies in
the world dedicated to loss prevention, risk management, brand protection
and security consulting, servicing predominantly Fortune 500 clientele and
their counsel. Protecting the world's most valuable brands, the
Columbus-based company maintains regional offices in Atlanta, Bogotá,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Hong Kong, Lima, London, Los Angeles,
Mexico City, Miami, Milan, New York, Phoenix, São Paulo, Tampa, and
Washington, DC, and has experienced resident consultants in over 200 other
major metropolitan areas of the world.
PICA Corporation offers asset protection, background research, brand
protection, compliance audits, corporate and government training,
corporate/industrial undercover services, corporate profiling and due
diligence, corporate theft investigations, crisis management, environmental
litigation support, executive protection, insurance defense, Internet fraud
investigations, port and supply chain protection, product diversion
investigations product security solutions, retail loss prevention, security
consulting and Web monitoring. For more, please visit www.pica.net.