United States Attorney Joseph S. Van Bokkelen

Northern District of Indiana

5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500

Hammond, IN 46320

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton

April 19, 2006                                                                         PHONE: (219) 937-5603

Fax: (219) 852-2770

FIVE CHARGED WITH THE SALE OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

Hammond, IN—The United States Attorney’s Office announced the arrests of several individuals involved in the sale of counterfeit goods and drug paraphernalia on April 18, 2006 . Charged in a criminal complaint were Borislav Zivkovich, 43, of Hammond, Indiana; Guadalupe Garcia, 50, of Schererville, Indiana; John Thorsky, 28, of Gary, Indiana; and Erica Maxwell, of Griffith, Indiana. All were charged with trafficking or attempting to traffic in counterfeit goods; selling or offering for sale drug paraphernalia; and aiding and abetting in the sale of these illegal items. Marjorie Blackwell, 30, of Hammond, Indiana was charged with selling drug paraphernalia.

A task force of federal and state agents, led by Special Agents of the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arrested these individuals associated with three businesses in Hammond, Indiana. An investigation led agents to three locations in Hammond. New York Bridal, 6828 Indianapolis Boulevard and Earthly Pride, 6824 Indianapolis Boulevard, were both selling counterfeit goods: purses, shoes, and other items which bore the trademark logos of Coach, Prada, Burburry, Yves St.Laurent, etc., but which were in fact imitations selling for drastically discounted prices. The sale of such counterfeit items violates federal criminal law designed to protect the copyrights granted to the original manufacturers. In addition to the counterfeit goods, Earthly Pride offered for sale a variety of drug paraphernalia. The Pride, 6823 Indianapolis Boulevard, also offered drug paraphernalia for sale.

 This has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bernard L. Van Wormer, who can be reached at 219-937-5500.

 The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that a complaint is merely an allegation at this time and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

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