United States Attorney's Office
Districtof Nebraska





February 19, 2002

United States Attorney Mike Heavican and U. S. Customs announce the following information for the attention of the media:

Event Triggering this Release: On February 15, 2002, John Gerard Ryan was sentenced in the United States District Court by the Honorable Judge Joseph F. Bataillon for trafficking in counterfeit Rolex watches over the Internet. Mr. Ryan was sentenced to3 years probation, 120 hours of community service, ordered to pay a fine of $1000, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $100.

Three other defendants in this case have also entered pleas of guilty to this conspiracy and have been sentenced.

Rufus Todd Jones, age 33, of Omaha was sentenced on January 11, 2002. He received a sentence of three years in prison and was ordered to pay restitution to Rolex in the amount of $116,779.50. This is the amount Rolex spent in civil legal fees in its attempt to stop Jones from selling watches that infringed upon its trademark.

Dawn Jones, the wife of Rufus Jones, was sentenced on November 15, 2001 for her involvement in the conspiracy. She received a sentence of 5 years probation and was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $116,779.50.

Robert Garza, age 26, of Garland, Texas, was sentenced on January 18, 2002 to five years probation, 150 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution to Rolex in the amount of $35,000.00.

Rufus Jones and the others operated Internet based businesses from the Omaha, Nebraska, area and elsewhere. The court found that while using web-sites named fakewatch.com and dealsbytodd.com, Jones and the others collected about $700,000 from the sale of counterfeit watches nationwide.

Name of Defendant: John Gerard Ryan

AKA:

DOB: June 23, 1956

Last Known Non-Custodial Address of Defendant: 733 Altair Drive, Littleton, Colorado

Crime(s) Charged and Potential Penalty (A CHARGE is merely an accusation and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty):

Trafficking in counterfeit goods or services in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2320(a) & 2. Potential Penalty: 10 years imprisonment; $2,000,000 fine; 3 year term of Supervised Release; $100 Special Assessment

Specific Location of Alleged Crime:

Location of Arrest: N/A, appeared on Summons

Alleged Dollar Loss/Type and Quantity of Drug:

Others Charged in Same Scheme:

Relevant Dates:

Date(s) of Alleged Crime: December 1999

Federal Arrest Date: N/A, appeared on Summons

Date Complaint Issued:

Indictment Returned Date: June 20, 2001

Initial Appearance Date: July 20, 2001

Plea or Trial and Date(s): Pled guilty, October 19, 2001

Sentencing Date: February 15, 2002

Next Court Hearing Type and Date: none

Assigned Magistrate Judge: Honorable Thomas D. Thalken

Held without Bond, or Released from Custody: Released from custody

In Continuous Custody Since:

Assigned District Court Judge: Honorable Joseph F. Bataillon

Initials of Assigned AUSA/Preparer of THIS Release: DAM/LW