Two Guilty of Trafficking Counterfeit Goods at Mall Kiosks

TYLER — Two Texas men have pleaded guilty in a counterfeit goods scheme in the Eastern District of Texas. Shiraz Sherali Odhwani, 54, of Carrollton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. Umair Salman Khan, 29, of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic counterfeit goods on Sep. 8 before Judge Love.

According to federal authorities, Odhwani owns and operates a company known as Turtle Wireless, a wholesale outlet and retail point of sale for cellular telephones and wireless device accessories located in Dallas. In 2008, Turtle Wireless began selling counterfeit cellular telephone accessories purchased from suppliers in China. Through Turtle Wireless, Odhwani sold counterfeit products to customers within the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere. In connection with this case, law enforcement officers seized counterfeit items with an estimated value of $5 million from Odhwani’s store and leased storage space.

Khan worked at a cellular telephone kiosk in the San Jacinto Mall in Baytown. The kiosk was owned and operated by individuals in East Texas who had similar kiosks in Austin and Longview. Beginning in August 2009, Khan sold counterfeit merchandise out of the Baytown kiosk. The counterfeit items, which were shipped to Khan in Baytown on a monthly basis, were purchased by co-conspirators.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment on May 11, charging Odhwani, Khan, and two others in the conspiracy. Odhwani and Khan each face up to 5 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set.