Chula Vista Man Sent To Penalty Box For Trafficking in Over $100,000 Worth of Counterfeit World Cup Jerseys

For Further Information: Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson (619) 546-7976

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 17, 2015

SAN DIEGO – Clemente Leon of Chula Vista was sentenced to four months in custody followed by five months in a halfway house for selling counterfeit World Cup soccer jerseys valued at between $120,000 and $320,000 over the internet.  Leon was also ordered by U.S. District Court Judge John A. Houston to forfeit $50,000 of the proceeds and all the counterfeit merchandise seized by federal agents.

Leon pleaded guilty in May, admitting that he sold soccer jerseys bearing counterfeit trademarks over Amazon as well as from his own website, www.playerasfutbol.com.  Among other methods, he used PayPal to process the proceeds of his crime. Leon imported the counterfeit soccer jerseys from China even after receiving a Cease and Desist letter from Nike in August of 2013.  This allowed him to capitalize on the popularity of the World Cup. Leon further modified the counterfeit team jerseys in his garage in Chula Vista by attaching counterfeit World Cup team patches and stencils with World Cup player’s names on the backs of the jerseys, in order to be able to charge a higher price. 

DEFENDANT                                              Criminal Case No. 15cr1326-JAH                          

Clemente Leon                                                Age: 37           Chula Vista, California                   

SUMMARY OF CHARGE

Importation Contrary to Law—Title 18, United States Code, Section 545

Maximum penalty:      20 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine

AGENCY

Homeland Security Investigations