Plugs all over NYC are probably wondering if they have been a victim of this jig. Five people were busted for allegedly selling $73 million worth of fake Nike Air Jordan sneakers in the New York Area.
If the sneakers were authentic, they’d be valued at approximately $73M. would be the real value of the sneakers if they were not knockoffs. The five people in question Miyuki Suen, Jian Min Huang, Songhua Qu, Kin Lui Chen and Fangrang Qu have all been swept up and charged with counterfeit trafficking conspiracy and trafficking in counterfeit goods. Each of them could possibly find themselves in prison for up to 20 years if found guilty.
According to ABC News, the sneakers looked real but lack the logos of authentic ones, and were being sold for $190. Over the last two years, 42 containers of fakes have arrived in New Jersey from China and were dropped off in different spots in Queens and Brooklyn.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman in a statement sent a stern warning to those currently or considering getting into the bootleg business adding “just don’t do it.” Reselling sneakers has become a very lucrative business especially since the kick game has risen in popularity as of late. Rappers, athletes, actors all have “plugs” now so this level of counterfeiting should come as no surprise. So don’t be shocked if more news of rings such as this one getting shut comes out in the future.
So you would be doing yourself a service if you just took yourself your local Footlocker or utilize your SNKR’s app to spare yourself a “what are thooooseeee” moment.
