Toy Importer Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges
Toy Importer Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges
by Contributing Editor
The owner of an El Monte toy import business pleaded not guilty Wednesday to seven felony counts stemming from the alleged manufacturing and possession of more than $1.4 million in counterfeit goods, including plush toys, backpacks and playing cards.
Wan Piao, also known as Edison Piao or Edisson Park, is accused of manufacturing and possessing for sale more than a half-million knock-off items, including counterfeit Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Angry Birds, Lego Ninjago, JanSport, Shopkins and Super Mario merchandise, according to Deputy District Attorney Duke Chau.
The items were discovered by law enforcement at Piao’s two El Monte warehouses in March 2017, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Piao, 37, was charged Oct. 4 with seven counts of counterfeit of a registered mark, along with an allegation of taking more than $500,000 through fraud and embezzlement. He was arrested Nov. 1 and released the same day on bond, according to jail records.
Piao, who is due back in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Feb. 5, could face up to 12 years in jail if convicted, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!
All credit goes to Contributing Editor
Originally published on https://mynewsla.com