Two people charged with selling counterfeit military uniforms

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2 people charged with selling counterfeit military uniform
Photo: For representational purpose only

Bernard Klein, 39, of New York City, pleaded guilty for his role in a scheme to manufacture counterfeit military clothing overseas. These counterfeit goods were also sold to the U.S. military, which is a violation of federal law.

The prosecutors said that Bernard Klein conspired with wholesaler Ramin Kohanbash, 50, and with at least one other person.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Rhode Island, they together arranged the production of goods worth over $20 million in China and Pakistan with fake labels that were identical to genuine U.S. trademarks.

The prosecutors also confirmed that many of these phony garments that were claimed to have weather resistance and other features were also untrue.

It was reported that Bernard Klein, along with Ramin Kohanbash, bought sample military uniforms which were then poorly reproduced in China and then sold to suppliers in the U.S. and in turn were sold to the U.S. government.

The apparel included phony name labels and tags that incorrectly represented the clothing abilities in a way that could harm a user.

For instance, the hoods that were intended for military and law enforcement personnel were labeled as “permanently flame resistant” while in reality, they were not. The military parkas were also falsely claimed to be made of a fabric that made the wearer difficult to be detected by a night vision goggles.

Reportedly, these parkas are worn by Air Force personnel stationed in Afghanistan.

“The uniforms they wear and the gear they carry are meant to protect them as they carry out their mission, not to put them in harm’s way,” U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, Aaron Weisman, said in a statement. “This case should serve notice that suppliers who do business with the military must comply with the law, or they will be held to account.”

Klein is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, while Kohanbash who pleaded guilty last year is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22.