Illegal Chinese immigrant sentenced for counterfeit merchandise

February 10, 2012 at 2:22a.m.

CLEVELAND

A 48-year-old illegal Chinese immigrant was sentenced to 26 months in prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of trafficking in counterfeit merchandise.

Zhi Xian Zhou, of Bronx, N.Y. was arrested July 18 by Beaver Township police after a traffic investigation and search of his vehicle, which contained more than 2,800 items bearing counterfeit logos, labels and trademarks. If genuine, the retail value of the merchandise would be more than $525,000, according to a court news release.