Acushnet Company Alerted Authorities to Illegal Products Being Sold On-line
Fairhaven, MA (May 11, 2009) – EBay seller, Warren Fondrie, formerly of Vass, NC, plead guilty in Moore County (N.C.) Superior Court on April 14, to 12 counts of selling counterfeit golf equipment. Fondrie was charged with criminal use of counterfeit trademarks by North Carolina Secretary of State Trademark Enforcement Division following an investigation that state officials said uncovered a major product counterfeiting operation headquartered in Moore County. Fondrie was one of three defendants charged in December 2007 after Acushnet Company initiated an investigation with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office. The cases against, Donald Fondrie, is still pending. The third defendant, Pei-i Chou, a Taiwanese, is presently in the custody of immigration authorities and is expected to be deported back to Taiwan.
Acushnet Company, which is comprised of the Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra golf equipment brands, played an integral part in the arrests by alerting and working with the North Carolina authorities.
“We are pleased with the outcome of this case. Warren Fondrie sold counterfeit golf product to unsuspecting consumers on eBay. He has now been ordered to pay a substantial amount in restitution, and could face jail time if that restitution is not paid” said Lisa Rogan, Acushnet Company trademark manager. “Acushnet is pleased with the outcome of this case, and it should send a strong message to those who participate in this type of illegal activity, that we will take the appropriate action to shut down these types of operations.”
In this case, Acushnet observed counterfeit golf products being sold on eBay conducted an internal investigation prior to presenting the matter to the N.C. Secretary of State’s Office. A two-month investigation resulted in allegations that the Fondrie’s operated an Internet-based site that sold fake brand-name golfing gear imported from Asia. The product was then sold both domestically and internationally on a “store site” on eBay, the large on-line auction company. Postal authorities monitored shipping traffic connected to the case, while law enforcement used eBay records to track sales. Thousands of fake golf products were seized, including counterfeit Titleist, Cobra and Scotty Cameron products, among other brands.
Warren Fondrie was sentenced to 60 to 80 months in prison. Fondrie will not have to serve the time, however, if he complies with all the terms of his probation, which includes paying restitution of more than $253,338 to the victims. If he fails to comply, his probation will be revoked and he could go to prison as a result.
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