On Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at approximately 2:18 p.m., officers with the Baytown Police Department were called to Wal-Mart, located at 4900 Garth Rd, in reference to two individuals attempting to sell what the caller believed were stolen goods. The caller described the two individuals as being young black males in a Buick.
Units in the area quickly arrived and began searching for the duo and the vehicle. Officers quickly located a Buick with Mississippi license plates and observed two occupants appearing to solicit a conversation with a customer in the parking lot. The unknown patron refused to talk with the individuals and the vehicle was immediately stopped by officers.
Officers observed numerous electronic items in the front seat. The driver of the vehicle was unable to immediately provide a license but stated he had it in the trunk of the vehicle. When the driver was allowed to retrieve his license from the trunk, officers observed more electronics in the trunk. The electronics were inspected and found to be counterfeit, trademark-infringed Sony cameras and Apple Ipod devices. The retail value of these items would have totaled over $7,000. The suspects were selling them for a fraction of the retail value of their legitimate counterparts.
Both occupants of the vehicle were taken to the Baytown Police Station where they were interviewed by detectives and both later confessed to knowingly purchasing, altering and attempting to sell counterfeit merchandise. The Harris County District Attorneys Office accepted one count of Trademark Counterfeiting against each of the subjects, a State Jail Felony which is punishable by 180 days to 2 years confinement in a State Jail and/or up to a $10,000.00 fine.