Lawfuel – Law News, Law Jobs – A Los Angeles man pleaded guilty this morning to a federal charge of attempting to sell counterfeit “Yu-Gi-Oh” playing cards that would have been worth more than $1 million if they were legitimate.
Luis Alfonso Lopez Canche, 37, pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Los Angeles to a felony count of attempted trafficking in counterfeit goods. In court, Lopez admitted that he attempted to sell Yu-Gi-Oh playing cards that he knew were counterfeit. Lopez specifically admitted that he negotiated with undercover agents on November 16, 2004, and February 11, 2005, for the sale of counterfeit Yu-Gi-Oh playing cards. On March 2, 2005, Lopez met with undercover agents and agreed to sell them 115,000 decks of counterfeit Yu-Gi-Oh playing cards. When agents executed a federal search warrant that day at the business where Lopez worked, JSK International, and the company’s warehouse, they seized counterfeit Yu-Gi-Oh playing cards worth approximately $1.1 million.
Lopez faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $2 million when he is sentenced by United States District Judge S. James Otero on February 12.
This case was investigated by the Long Beach Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
CONTACT: Assistant United States Attorney Brian Hoffstadt
(213) 894-6482
Assistant United States Attorney Rozella A. Oliver
(213) 894-2475
Release No. 06-160
