Man gets Jail Time for Selling fake Disney Pins

A Southern California man was sentenced to eight years in state prison for illegally importing counterfeit Disney merchandise from China and selling it over the Internet.

Larry James Allred, 58, pleaded guilty to a court offer of one felony count of trademark infringement, according to a statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said Allred, had two previous strikes: a 1975 rape conviction and a 1978 conviction for rape and kidnapping.

As part of his sentence, Allred will also have to pay $201,000 in restitution, prosecutors said.

His partner in crime, Robert Edward Smyrak, 54, of Anaheim was sentenced to one year in jail, three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution after he pleaded guilty in 2011 to one felony count of trademark infringement.

Between January 2010 and April 2011, prosecutors said, the men sent genuine Disney collectible pins to a Chinese manufacturer to be replicated and then sold the merchandise online in bulk.

It is reported they sold almost 1 million counterfeit items, often for less than $1 per pin.

In 2011, the men were caught when Customs officials opened a parcel at LAX addressed to Smyrak that contained more than 150 pounds of counterfeit pins. They were arrested by Anaheim police, and at the time, were in possession of more than 91,000 counterfeit pins.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Don't forget to check out the Chip and Company Radio Network too!

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

Click Here for your FREE No Obligation Quote.