After an intense three-day trial, a federal jury delivered their verdict, finding Marin Morales-Espinoza and Francisco Alvarado-Ramirez guilty on charges of conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods, specifically imitation Levi's apparel. The conviction follows a detailed presentation of evidence that both individuals were deeply implicated in an operation to import counterfeit Levi's components from Mexico into the United States and subsequently manufacture and distribute fake jeans in the Los Angeles area.
Details emerged that Morales-Espinoza's role involved paying individuals to unlawfully bring counterfeit Levi's pieces across the border at the Calexico Port of Entry. In contrast, Alvarado-Ramirez was responsible for constructing then the counterfeit jeans in his factory located in LA's Garment District. Law enforcement seized substantial evidence, including tens of thousands of counterfeit Levi's tags and other components, in addition to over 2,000 finished counterfeit jeans, evidence which was later presented in court to secure the conviction.
"Counterfeit goods fool consumers and hurt retailers by diluting the value of a product and its trademark," said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. Her statement emphasizes the broader impact of such criminal activities on the market and consumer trust. Furthermore, the Senior Director of Global Brand Protection for Levi Strauss & Co. testified, confirming that neither defendant was affiliated with Levi's and illustrating how the seized items fell short of the brand's authentic standards.
The aftermath of this trial will see Morales-Espinoza and Alvarado-Ramirez return to court on November 1, facing the possibility of being sentenced to up to ten years in prison and a fine of $2 million. This case, overseen by U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta, is a testament to the rigorous efforts by Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice to clamp down on counterfeit operations. Prosecution was carried out by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melanie Pierson and Sarah Akhtar, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Sanniti.
