NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser announced that MAHER SALIM, age 41, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jay A. Zainey to (3) years after previously pleading guilty to trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2320(a)(1). Judge Zainey scheduled a hearing to determine restitution owed to the victims for Sept. 24, 2019.
According to court documents, SALIM owned and operated BRANDS 4 LESS, a business located at 4200 Washington Avenue, Unit A, in New Orleans. On about November 6, 2016, agents with the United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI") conducted a cargo inspection of a suspicious package addressed to SALIM at the DHL Express facility in Kenner, Louisiana. The package contained 32 pairs of Nike shoes that were determined to be counterfeit. Thereafter, a Nike representative entered BRANDS 4 LESS during its business hours and purchased another pair of counterfeit Nike shoes. Based on this information, HSI agents executed a federal search warrant on BRANDS 4 LESS on Jan. 19, 2017. During the search, agents seized numerous counterfeit goods SALIM was selling that bore the false marks of makers of clothing and luxury goods, including True Religion, Rock Revival, Michael Kors, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Polo, Timberland, New Era, Nike, Adidas, Dolce & Gabbana, Mitchell & Ness, and North Face. The collective fair market value of all the items was approximately $193,980.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg was in charge of the prosecution.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
