Derris Batiste charged for selling counterfeit shoes in Durham, N.C.
Word On The Curb…North Carolina authorities have arrested a Durham man for running a bootleg counterfeit shoe business.
According to the Durham County Sheriff’s Office and agents with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Anti-Counterfeiting Task Force, they arrested 44-year-old Derris Levar Batiste of Durham. He has been charged with criminal use of a counterfeit trademark, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, trafficking opium or heroin, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a schedule II controlled substance, and maintaining a building used for keeping or selling a controlled substance.
Officials said they discovered counterfeit items, which included 984 pairs of Nike sneakers, 86 pairs of Adidas sneakers, 36 pairs of Timberland boots, and 11 pairs of Nike/Louis Vuitton shoes. Authorities said that if the shoes were authentic, they would have an estimated retail value of nearly $192,000, according to N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.
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During the search of the retail store in Durham, authorities also uncovered illegal weapons and drugs.
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