US men convicted of counterfeiting Levi's jeans

After a three-day trial, a US jury has convicted two men of conspiracy to traffic counterfeit Levi’s jeans labels, tags, rivets and buttons to make counterfeit Levi’s jeans.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Marin Morales-Espinoza (63) paid people to smuggle counterfeit Levi’s pieces and parts into the US from Mexico at the Calexico Port of Entry. Another co-conspirator paid Morales to drive the pieces to his home in Los Angeles.

That co-conspirator brought the pieces to Francisco Alvarado-Ramirez (50) at his factory in the garment district of the city to make the counterfeit Levi’s jeans.

A Department of Justice statement said tens of thousands of counterfeit Levi’s components were seized at the Port of Entry, while more than 2,000 assembled counterfeit Levi’s jeans were seized from Alvarado’s factory. These fake Levi’s were sold at local swap meets and flea markets by other co-conspirators.

Levi Strauss & Co's senior director of global brand protection testified that none of the co-conspirators worked for Levi’s. He walked the jury through the seized merchandise to explain how they were not genuine Levi’s products.

"Counterfeit goods fool consumers and hurt retailers by diluting the value of a product and its trademark," said US Attorney Tara McGrath. "This case demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting consumers and retailers from fraud."

If convicted, Morales and Alvarado face up to 10 years in federal prison and $2m in fines. They are scheduled to be sentenced November 1.