On-Line Watch Counterfeiters Arrested

Two men were arrested last week for selling watches with counterfeit trademarks on their e-commerce Web site.

Police say Robert Slavinski Jr. and Thomas Citera, both of Port Jefferson, NY, and their company RHS Watches sold "replica" watches using their Web site, www.global-usa.com/rhs/watches. The site offers "authentic re-creations" of watch designs by TAG Heuer, Movado, Rolex, Omega, Fendi, Ebel, Tommy Hilfiger and Nautica. A disclaimer at the bottom of the company's home page says "By purchasing one of these replicas, the buyer agrees not to sell or represent these as genuine. They are strictly replicas and are not manufactured or endorsed by the respective companies."

Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives began an investigation after receiving complaints from Movado, TAG Heuer and Omega. Detectives initially purchased 15 watches from the company, then issued a search warrant, resulting in the arrest of Slavinski and Citera and the seizure of more than 70 watches, equipment and business records. The men were charged with one count of second-degree trademark counterfeiting and two counts of third-degree trademark counterfeiting.

- by Stacey King

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