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Date: 10-04-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Rakee Russ
Case Number: 2:19-cr-00053-RBS
Judge: R. Barclay Surrick
Court: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: Joan E. Burnes and Anito Eve
Defendant's Attorney:
Call 888-354-4529 if you need help finding a criminal defense lawyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for a conspiracy to commit wire fraud or to traffic in counterfeit goods case.
Description:
Philadelphia, PA - Counterfeit NCAA, NFL Ticket-Seller Sentenced to Prison
Rakee Russ, 41, of Philadelphia, PA was sentenced to 12 months and one day of incarceration, three years’ supervised release and $420 restitution for his participation in a scheme to sell counterfeit tickets.
Russ pleaded guilty in July 2019 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods, and trafficking in counterfeit goods, arising from his role in the sale of counterfeit tickets to sporting events, including the January 2017 Villanova-Virginia NCAA Men’s College Basketball game and the September 2017 Eagles v. Giants NFL game, both in Philadelphia, PA. The counterfeit tickets bore the authentic trademarks that were registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Russ sold the counterfeit tickets at the Wells Fargo Center and Lincoln Financial Field.
“Criminal counterfeiting and piracy are serious, federal crimes,” said First Assistant U. S. Attorney Williams. “When fans spend their hard-earned money on event tickets, they deserve the real deal. This defendant took advantage of unsuspecting fans, and now he will be doing more than a year in federal prison. To anyone else out there who thinks selling counterfeit tickets are not going to be prosecuted federally, take notice. Justice has been served.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Charges:
18:1349 - CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD
(1)
18:1343 - WIRE FRAUD; 18:2 - AIDING AND ABETTING
(2-4)
18:2320(a) - CONSPIRACY TO TRAFFIC IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS
(5)
18:2320(a)(1) - TRAFFICKING IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS; 18:2 - AIDING AND ABETTING
(6)
Outcome: 10/02/2019 53 SENTENCING MEMORANDUM, Certificate of Service by USA as to RAKEE RUSS (BURNES, JOAN) (Entered: 10/02/2019)
10/02/2019 54 First Sentencing Document Sentencing Memorandum by RAKEE RUSS as to RAKEE RUSS. (MCDONALD, JONATHAN) (Entered: 10/02/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: