Wednesday, March 29, 2017

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Four people have been indicted on felony charges, accused in a counterfeit merchandise scheme at two Augusta flea markets.

Ana Ycaza, Abu Karuma, Leha Truong, and Faye Adamas have been charged with possession with intent to sell counterfeit goods.

The suspects were arrested and charged back in December after Richmond County deputies seized about $3 million worth of counterfeit merchandise from South Augusta Flea Market and The Barnyard in Richmond County.

Along with the counterfeit goods, deputies also seized about $10,000 in cash and a car.

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- A fourth suspect is out on bond, accused of a counterfeit merchandise scheme at the Augusta Flea Market.

A judge granted Fay Adamas a $3000 bond. As of 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Adamas was still in custody, but has been released since then.

On Monday, Leha Truong's bond was set for $3000. Bond was set at $4000 for Ana Ycaza and Abu Karuma.

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- A suspect accused in a counterfeit merchandise scheme at the Augusta Flea Market has been granted bond.

A judge granted Fay Adamas a 3 thousand dollar bond. As of 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Adamas was still in custody.

On Monday, Leha Truong's bond was set at $3000. Bond was set at $4000 for Ana Ycaza and Abu Karuma.

News 12 NBC 26 / Monday, Nov. 5, 2016

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Two big trailers are overflowing with piles of would be Christmas gifts, but they will never make it under a tree.

The trailers are filled with hundreds of Nike, Michael Kohrs, The North Face, and Jordans.

All of it a cheap knock-off of the real thing.

"When it comes to the knock off Michael Kohrs, the fake Nike and fake jewelry and fake perfumes, they mark that stuff up," said Sarah Hill Lawver.

43-year-old Abu Karuma, 28-year-old Faye Damas, 65-year-old Ana Ycaza and 50-year-old Leha Truong are facing felony charges for selling the goods at Barnyard and South Augusta flea market.

"People like Nike, Yeti, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kohrs, they represent those folks and they go all over the United States tracking these folks," said Lt. Robbie Silas," said Lt. Silas.

Saturday investigators seized roughly three million dollars worth of fake versions of high ticket items.

Investigators say they were stock piling waiting for the holidays.

"These businesses that are operating under the radar without a business license, without doing what other businesses are doing. It's not fair," said Lt. Silas.

Deputies say it's not fair to the manufacturers who lose millions in sales and not fair to those who have fakes now sitting under the tree.

"We did have customers that were coming out to buy more shoes when we told them it was counterfeit stuff they couldn't believe it. Thinking they were getting good deals on name brand merchandise," said Silas.

The most interesting part is what happens to the millions in counterfeit merchandise.

"We're not going to have a big yard sale. Nobody is going to profit off of this. This stuff will be destroyed," said Lt. Silas.

Making sure no one else makes a dollar off of a product they don't have the right to sell.

Monday, Dec. 5, 2016 |

4 p.m.

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- A judge has set bond for three people accused in a counterfeit merchandise scheme at an Augusta flea market.

Leha Truong's bond was set at $3000. Bond was set at $4000 for Ana Ycaza and Abu Karuma.

11:23 a.m.

Three people accused in a counterfeit merchandise scheme at an Augusta flea market are set to appear in court Monday afternoon.

Abu Karuma, 43, Ana Ycaza, 65, and Leha Truong, 50, are set to be in court at 3 p.m. Monday. The fourth suspect, Faye Adamas, 65, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

The suspects were arrested and charged after Richmond County deputies seized about three million dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise from two flea markets in Richmond County.

Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016

UPDATE | 11:00 a.m.

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Four suspects have been arrested and charged after Richmond County deputies seized about three million dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise from two flea markets in Richmond County.

The suspects arrested are 43-year-old Abu Karuma, 28-year-old Faye Adamas, 65-year-old Ana Ycaza and 50-year-old Leha Truong. Karuma and Truong are from Augusta while Adamas and Ycaza are from Smyrna and Hephzibah.

An incident report from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office reveals members from the Office's Crime Suppression Team went to the South Augusta Flea Market in reference to counterfeit goods being sold at several booths.

The report states Adamas "tried to distance himself" as investigators approached the booths. Eventually, each of the four owners identified their booths as their own and were taken into custody.

Items seized from Karuma's booth include dozens of boxes containing counterfeit Timberland and UGG boots, as well as several pairs of counterfeit Nike and Jordan-brand basketball shoes. His seized property has a retail value over $10,000.

The booth Adamas owned included dozens of counterfeit Nike shoes, Timberland boots, hundreds of other counterfeit shoes and various counterfeit North Face jackets. The property seized from his booth also has a retail value of over $10,000.

Ycaza's booth included several large plastic bags containing counterfeit Michael Kors wallets and counterfeit Chanel perfume while Truong's booth contained counterfeit sports-brand hats and jackets. A number of counterfeit items and their retail value from Truong and Ycaza is not yet known at this time.

Each vendor is charged with one count of forged/counterfeit trademarks, service marks.

Along with the counterfeit goods, deputies also seized about $10,000 dollars in cash and a car.

We'll keep you updated as this story develops.

Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Richmond County deputies seized about three million dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise from two flea markets in Richmond County.

Deputies say they went to the South Augusta Flea Market and the Barnyard off Doug Barnard Parkway. There they found about three million dollars worth of counterfeit merchandise. The total is based on what the items would sell for retail costs.

Some of the counterfeit brands include Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Polo, Otter Box, and Nike.

Investigators also confiscated ten thousand dollars in cash and a car.

Four people are facing felony charges at this time.

News 12 NBC 26 will continue to keep you updated on this developing story.