HOUSTON – Law enforcement has seized more than 27,000 counterfeit FIFA-related items worth more than $6.1 million across the Houston area in approximately the past two weeks, according to court records and officials — and with the tournament wrapping up in Houston on Saturday, experts are warning fans not to get rushed into any last-minute deals.
The seizures have stretched from a shopping center in Sharpstown to the Port of Houston and near Houston stadium.
Undercover operation leads to felony charges
Houston police went undercover at a jersey store in Sharpstown on June 11 and June 17, according to records, where detectives found counterfeit Adidas-branded jerseys. Officers cited problems with the packaging, tags, material, and quality — all sold well below the suggested retail price.
Detectives returned to execute a search warrant on June 18, records show, and seized more than 8,000 items, including jerseys and shorts, according to court records.
The store’s owners, Maria Flores and Pedro Condor, are now wanted on felony trademark counterfeiting charges.
When KPRC 2 News stopped by Tuesday, the business was open — but an employee said neither owner was there.
HPD wouldn’t release additional information citing an ongoing investigation.
Arrests near Houston Stadium
Two other men and a woman appeared in court on a trademark counterfeiting charge after Houston police arrested them near Houston Stadium for allegedly selling counterfeit jerseys and shorts during the first FIFA match in Houston on June 14.
Records show Saudy Cardona Ramos and Gustavo Diaz Henriquez had $45,950 worth of counterfeit jerseys and shorts when police arrested them. Both have been released from jail on a $20,000 bond.
Police also arrested Diego Santamaria Funes near the stadium on June 14, who investigators allege had with $7,890 worth of counterfeit jerseys and shorts. He pled guilty two days later, got sentenced to six days in county jail, and received credit for time served, according to records.
It’s unclear the total number of items each individual may have had, and HPD also declined to answer any questions on these cases, citing an ongoing investigation.
Port of Houston seizure
At the Port of Houston, Customs and Border Protection agents seized 12,000 Adidas soccer jerseys, 4,500 soccer balls, and 2,200 Apple Watches and earbuds with FIFA branding.
Much of the merchandise was coming from China, destined for distribution throughout the U.S. and beyond, according to a CBP press release.
“CBP takes very seriously our role in protecting American consumers from low quality and potentially dangerous counterfeit items,” CBP Area Port Director Thomas Mahn said in a statement. “With the extraordinary growth in e-commerce, consumers should always be mindful of where they are buying their products. Unfortunately, these criminal networks are very deceptive in scamming sports fans and harming American consumers and businesses. CBP works tirelessly every day to protect the public, our local economy, and those who play by the rules.”
How to spot a fake
Carolina Petriciolet with the Better Business Bureau of Houston says rushed, last-minute buying decisions are exactly what gets fans into trouble.
“This is a big issue in our community,” Petriciolet said.
She warns that many legitimate vendors have already sold out.
“Unfortunately, a lot of the verified vendors — the ones that are legitimate vendors — are out of this merchandise by now,” Petriciolet said.
The BBB recommends the following steps to avoid counterfeit merchandise:
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Check the tags for a manufacturer’s code, which can be searched online to verify the original seller
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Inspect the emblems and stitching, and look for any misspellings
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Be skeptical of low prices — “If you’re getting merchandise that’s about $50, $30, $40 — it is 100% not legitimate merchandise,” Petriciolet said.
The BBB is also urging anyone still looking for last-minute FIFA tickets to avoid paying directly and upfront to someone through apps like Venmo or Zelle, as those platforms may make it difficult to recover any money lost through a fraudulent transaction.
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