I guess we should be thanking the Obama Administration for its crackdown on fraud that rips off the taxpayer. I have so many crime bust stories this morning, I’m probably boring you. (Here and here are my previous posts).
This one is from Rockford, IL and it involves the sale of knock-offs—items of clothing that carry phony brand-names. The news report isn’t clear, but it looks like the items sold in a small grocery store, were being purchased with food stamp cards.
From WIFR.com:
ROCKFORD (WIFR) — Yesterday federal and local law enforcement officers arrested three Rockford residents on federal charges of trafficking in counterfeit goods, and four Rockford residents on charges of wire fraud, and today, one more Rockford resident was arrested on the charge of wire fraud.
The charges announced today were the result of an investigation that began in June 2009.
In June 2009, law enforcement had been notified that several stores in Rockford were believed to be selling counterfeit Nike products. Only licensed retailers may cell certain trademarked brands.
[….]
The three Rockford men charged in complaints with trafficking in counterfeit goods ARE: Mohammad Hamad, 42, Mohammad Hariz, 19, and Abdul Hariz, 21.
The four Rockford men charged in complaints with wire fraud are: Nassir Ali, 41, Haitham Hariz, 24, Abdulaziz Saeed Abdullah Mohammed, 36, Kassim Hariz, 44, AND Saleh Quhshi, 37.
E-2 Treaty Investors? Or, refugees just doing well in America? Knowing how difficult it is to find employment and how out of reach it is to actually own a store, don’t you wonder where these guys are getting the seed money for their ventures. I sure hope Obama’s security agencies are working on tracking the start-up money.