"CARROLL COUNTY (WSLS 10) – A joint investigative initiative by Virginia State Police and the Hillsville Police Department led to the arrests of several people at the Labor Day Gun Show and Flea Market in Hillsville.
Blazer Investigations, representing numerous trademarked brand names, was also on site assisting with identification of counterfeit goods.
State and local investigators seized such items as counterfeit cell phone accessories, jackets and perfumes that would have netted a profit of approximately $500,000.
Known as Intellectual Property Theft, the selling of counterfeit goods costs U.S. businesses billions of dollars a year and robs the nation of jobs and lost tax revenues, according to the FBI.
Counterfeit perfumes and cosmetics can even pose health risks to users.
For more information on Intellectual Property Theft, to include the impact such crimes have on communities and tips on how not to fall victim to such crimes, go to the FBI Website here.
The following men were each charged with the Class 6 felony for being in violation of registration and protection of trademark/service marks (Code of Virginia 59.1-92.13):
Mujahed A. Jaghma, 30, of Oak Lawn, Ill.
Basel R.A. Ghifari, 33, of Bridgeview, Ill.
Elsayed H. Aly, 44, of Henryville, Penn
Elkinde L. Masoud, 34, of Hickory Hills, Ill.
Mohammed Tawafsha, 30, of Chicago Ridge, Ill.
Michael J. Dawes, 53, of Georgetown, Ky.
Chad M. Adams,28, of Lexington, Ky."
