Springfield Man Agrees To Plead Guilty To Trafficking In Counterfeit Goods

BOSTON - A Springfield man was charged today in U.S. District Court in Springfield with selling counterfeit merchandise.

Josue Rivera, 38, was charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods. In a plea agreement also filed today, Rivera agreed to restitution of approximately $29,000 and forfeiture of two bank accounts worth approximately $79,000.

Rivera operated a retail merchandise business called Main Source, which was located in Springfield. In the course of this business, around April 11 until June 25, 2012, Rivera stocked and sold counterfeit merchandise, including clothing, footwear, and accessories that bore a variety of brand names and trademarks, including Gucci, Nike, Coach, Chanel, and Oakely. Rivera also stocked and sold unauthorized reproductions of digital video discs of movies and compact discs of music.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, Bruce Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New England Division, and Springfield Police Commissioner William Fitchett, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of Ortiz’s Springfield Branch Office.