Springfield Man Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Counterfeit Goods

BOSTON – A Springfield man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Springfield of selling counterfeit goods.

Josue Rivera, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to trafficking in counterfeit and unauthorized goods. As part of his plea agreement, Rivera agreed to pay $29,000 in restitution and forfeiture of two bank accounts worth approximately $79,000.

Rivera operated a retail merchandise business in Springfield called Main Source. From 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 Oakley. 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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, 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.