Two men were arrested in New Jersey and one in a neighboring state after
police raided a warehouse full of car parts. According to a report, police
are accusing the men of selling replacement auto parts as name brand,
when they allegedly were not. The men were all charged with conspiracy
to traffic in counterfeit goods, and trafficking in counterfeit goods.
The charges being pursued could result in five and ten year prison sentences
respectively.

These charges are very serious, as they not only impact the men’s personal
life if they are forced to serve sentences, but the reputation of their
business could be ruined. When law enforcement agencies investigate people
for crimes, there is always a possibility that their procedures are forgotten
or bypassed, which could result in inaccurate evidence being introduced.
If police completely overlook some procedures, the evidence might be inadmissible in court.

An experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney can help a person fight
fraud charges with a rigorous defense. Sometimes after an arrest a person
isn’t aware of their rights and they say and do things that might
be used against them at trial.

Speaking with a defense attorney can help ensure no rights are violated
and that the person receives fair treatment throughout the court process.
It’s unclear what evidence might be presented in this case, but police
say the men passed off generic parts as new, brand name parts. Whatever
evidence might be submitted, it is important that criminal charges are
always taken seriously.

Source: The Star-Ledger, “FBI raids Paterson warehouses, seizes counterfeit auto parts; three arrested,” Dan Goldberg, Feb. 19, 2013

-Our law firm handles white collar crime cases in New Jersey. Please visit
our website to learn more.