By Brian Fraga
Standard-Times staff writer
August 01, 2007 6:00 AM
WESTPORT — Police have charged a Fall River man with distributing counterfeit Nike sneakers and Coach handbags in Greater Fall River.
The counterfeit charges against William Lopes, 23, of 814 Pleasant St. in Fall River, have been pending since January, when Mr. Lopes was involved in a car accident in Westport.
Inside his car, police officers found 12 pairs of Air Jordan sneakers in assorted sizes, five pairs of assorted Nike sneakers, four leather Prada handbags and six Coach handbags. The 27 items had a combined $1,500 street counterfeit value. Had the items been genuine, they would have sold for more than $6,800, police estimate.
Sgt. Jeff Majewski, spokesman for the Westport Police Department, said officers initially believed the items were genuine trademark merchandise. However, the New Bedford Police Department directed Westport police to Powers and Associates, a Forestdale-based firm that investigates counterfeit cases for Nike, Prada and Coach.
An investigator from Powers confirmed the items were fake, Sgt. Majewski said. Mr. Lopes was charged this week with distributing counterfeit trademarked items, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
"We didn't catch him in the process of making a sale, but due to the large number of items he had, we had probable cause to think he was intending to distribute these," Sgt. Majewski said.
He also said investigators do not know how Mr. Lopes acquired the items, or where he sold them.
"That's something that's under investigation, but we don't know how far we're going to get with it," he said. "The suspect is not cooperating with the investigation. He has some serious felony charges against him."
Mr. Lopes is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 19 in Fall River District Court.
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