Gaston County investigators say a quiet Stanley home turned out to be packed with suspected knockoffs, with more than 96,000 items seized and arrest warrants now issued for two people tied to the case.
Tip Sparks Massive Seizure
According to a post on the department’s Facebook page about an alleged counterfeit operation at a Stanley home, Gaston County Police opened an investigation on June 11 after getting information about fake merchandise being sold out of the residence. Officers executed a search warrant there last Thursday.
Investigators say they recovered 96,108 suspected counterfeit items with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $7,845,817. The post credits Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office and Blazer Investigations as partners in the coordinated operation, a sign authorities were treating the case as a large-scale probe rather than a small side hustle.
Charges And Legal Exposure
Police say arrest warrants have been obtained for Adela Ortiz‑Portillo and Ever Roberto Martinez‑Olivia. Each is charged with two counts of criminal use of a counterfeit trademark and one count of felony conspiracy.
Under North Carolina law, criminal use of a counterfeit trademark becomes a felony when the retail sales value crosses specific thresholds. The Secretary of State’s Trademark Enforcement Division has statewide authority to investigate such offenses under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 80‑11.1. Given the seizure’s reported value, the case carries potential felony exposure if prosecutors decide to pursue charges on that basis.
Why Federal Partners Are In The Mix
Federal involvement is common in large counterfeit cases because agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations can dig into international supply chains and coordinate enforcement across state lines. Prior cases from HSI and the Department of Justice show federal partners have helped dismantle multi-million-dollar smuggling operations involving counterfeit goods, highlighting how seriously investigators take cases with high volumes or signs of organized distribution. For a comparable example, see the Department of Justice.
What Happens Next
Gaston County Police are asking anyone with information to contact Officer Rogers at 704‑866‑3320, according to the call for tips in the department’s post. Officials have not said whether the seized items were headed for local storefronts, online listings or both.
Investigators say the probe remains active and that they plan to update the public as new details come to light.
