Authorities arrested a father and son for allegedly selling counterfeit sports jerseys -- including some representing local Philly teams -- on internet auction sites after they sold three fakes to an undercover police officer.
Sixty-two-year-old Neil Robinson of Bensalem and his 30-year-old son, Shawn Robinson of Enola, were indicted Thursday on charges of trafficking in counterfeit goods and other related offenses.
Over a nearly seven year period, the pair imported more than 8,500 inauthentic baseball, football, hockey and basketball jerseys, which included a counterfeit trademark of each sports league, according to investigators. The trademarks and emblems of the various sports leagues are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The father and son paid unauthorized Chinese manufacturers approximately $200,000 between September 2007 and July 2014 for the fake goods, authorities said.
A July 2010 email from Neil -- under the username "Shawn990" -- specifically requested a Roy Oswalt jersey be made, according to investigators. The pitcher had just been traded to the Phillies from the Houston Astros.
“Hope you started production," the email read. "I will need ASAP. White pinstripe and grey should be plenty for now. Thanks.”
The two also sent photos of real jerseys to ensure the counterfeits were as accurate as possible.
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The Robinsons declined to comment on the indictment.
If convicted, Shawn could get up to 15 years in prison, while his father could be sentenced to as many as 175 years behind bars.
