United States Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña
Northern District of Texas

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

DALLAS-AREA MAN WHO TRAFFICKED COUNTERFEIT APPAREL
IS SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Defendant Also Ordered to Pay More than $130,000 in Restitution

DALLAS — Joven Joven, 40, was sentenced Friday afternoon by Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to 18 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in June 2011 to one count of trafficking in counterfeit trademarks, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. In addition, Judge Fitzwater ordered that Joven pay $136,397 in restitution and surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 6, 2012.

According to documents filed in the case, Joven and his girlfriend co-owned/operated AnteUp Sales, a Dallas-based company that distributed apparel through several websites and through “stores” on online auction sites, including eBay and Ioffer.com. Joven handled all of the day-to-day operations of the business, including locating and ordering counterfeit trademark goods, advertising the counterfeit goods for sale on the company’s website and online “stores,” processing orders and selling the counterfeit apparel to customers through the company’s website and online “stores,” dealing with customers, and shipping/distributing the counterfeit apparel to customers throughout the U.S.

On January 7, 2009, agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search warrant at Joven’s residence in Frisco, Texas. During the search, special agents seized computers, approximately $9,400 in cash and 33 boxes containing 661 pieces of counterfeit apparel and jewelry. Joven admitted that he knew at the time he sold and distributed the counterfeit apparel that it bore a counterfeit mark that was likely to cause confusion and deceive customers, and that he was not authorized by the trademark holders to sell or distribute any of these goods bearing the trademark.

ICE HSI was in charge of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Yanowitch was in charge of the prosecution.

###