U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced that Wasseem Ramjaun, a 48-year-old resident of Vaughan, Ontario, has been sentenced to two years in prison for trafficking counterfeit goods. Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny also ordered Ramjaun to pay restitution amounting to $4,800,870.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo explained that Ramjaun ran several importing and exporting businesses in Canada. Between October 2016 and August 1, 2017, he promised an individual authentic merchandise from brands like Yeti, Vera Bradley, and Lacoste without having the authorization to use their trademarks. In January 2017, he contacted a manufacturer in China to produce bags identical to genuine Vera Bradley items by providing them with photographs and tags of the original products.
From June 1 to June 8, 2017, Ramjaun imported these counterfeit Vera Bradley bags into the United States via a port of entry in the Western District of New York. He attempted to disguise the fraudulent nature of the goods by presenting U.S. Customs and Border Protection with a fake manufacturing agreement. The total loss due to his actions was calculated at $4,800,870.
This sentencing follows an investigation conducted by United States Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan's supervision.