Former Airport Workers Stole $6 Million In Luxury Goods

Three former workers at JFK Airport were arrested for using inside knowledge to steal $6 million in Chanel, Gucci and Prada shipments. In addition to the three airport workers, three others were also indicted for their role in stealing and reselling everything from luxury shoes to bags to sunglasses.

The details

The first incident occurred on January 31, when an airport trucker presented a forged bill for products that arrived at one of the airport’s plane hubs. From there, with the assistance of another worker, they were able to get away with four pallets of goods. It took several hours for the intended recipients to show up in an attempt to pick up the shipment.

Several months later, the same duo, along with the help of another employee, were able to snag five pallets valued at more than $4 million. With the items in hand, the group began to sell them out of an old salon building in Jamaica, Queens.

Police stepped in on June 3 when the crew was selling nearly $300,000 worth of handbags to another defendant. Furthermore, at the salon, police uncovered additional products worth roughly $2.5 million.

The six defendants in the case are faced with a variety of serious criminal charges, including but not limited to grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and conspiracy.

The three primary defendants in the case face a prison sentence of up to 25 years if convicted.

Trademark counterfeiting is a serious crime

Trademark counterfeiting takes on many forms:

• Trademark counterfeiting in the third degree: Class A misdemeanor
• Trademark counterfeiting in the second degree: Class E felony
• Trademark counterfeiting in the first degree: Class C felony

The penalties associated with trademark counterfeiting and related crimes, such as those detailed above, are far reaching. In the most serious of cases, a conviction can result in a long prison sentence.

If you’re charged with one of these crimes, it’s critical to understand your legal rights and potential consequences of a conviction. This will help you formulate a defense strategy that puts you in position to avoid a conviction or at the very least minimize the impact on your life.