Roommates, if you bought Timberland or UGG boots in New York recently, y’all might want to check the shoe facts!
According to the New York Post, a Queens man was taken into federal custody for trafficking nearly $5 million in fake Timberlands and UGG boots, authorities said. Since 2011, Hai Long Huang has brought thousands of pairs of boots from China to the United States since 2011.
The federal complaint says Hai Long had the boots transported in shipping containers, and set up tables on the corner of Delancey and Suffolk streets.
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Hai Long said the shoes arrived as generic boots without labels, but were then stamped with UGG and Timberland logos to sell them for more money.
“Some of these boots are produced to resemble Timberland and UGG boots in design and color, but significantly, are ‘generic,'” the complaint reads. “That is, these boots are imported into the United States without the inclusion of logos that are trademarks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark office.”
The feds had multiple undercover agents purchase boots in bulk from Huang, who once sold a dozen pairs of Timberlands to an agent for $515 back in August.
“Law enforcement agents removed the Timberland branding plugs on the bottom of the boots and discovered a logo for ‘Fangeli’ underneath,” reads the complaint.
Huang is being accused of shipping approximately three containers of fake Uggs, each containing 27,252 pairs, totaling almost $5 million. He allegedly got greedy with the Timbs, importing approximately 66 containers filled with 6000 pairs each, for an estimated total of $123 million.
Huang appeared at the United States District Court for the Southern District Court of New York Magistrates Court. He was released on $75,000 bond, and is expected to appear in court to face charges of trafficking counterfeit goods.
Stay with us as this story continues to develop, Roomies!
