Is there any doubt Disney will sue the balls off anyone who bootlegs its merchandise? Nope.
Need proof? Just ask the two Southern California knuckleheads who were busted importing $2 million worth of bootlegged Disney pins from China.
Learn more about their attempted scam (and some even more disturbing info about one of them) after the jump.
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Defendants Robert Edward Smyrak of Anaheim and Larry James Allred of Walnut are accused of importing some 80 shipments of counterfeit Disney merchandise from China. Though they probably paid in the ballpark of $1.98 for everything, the goods are valued by the Orange County district attorney's office at nearly $2 million.
In February, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a package at LAX that was addressed to Smyrak. Inside, agents found more than 150 pounds of counterfeit Disney pins. After an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, as well as the Anaheim Police Department, Smyrak and Allred were arrested on April 14.
The duo had reportedly planned to pass off the pins as official Disney merchandise and sell them online.
Smyrak pleaded guilty earlier this week to felony manufacturing and the sale of counterfeit goods. He will spend a year in jail, followed by three years' probation. Orange County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Thompson also ordered Smyrak to pay restitution.
But here's the scary part: In addition to facing trademark-counterfeit charges, Larry James Allred also faces sentencing enhancements for two prior strike convictions: In 1975, he was convicted of rape; in 1978, for kidnapping and rape.
What?!? How do you go from kidnapping and rape to bootlegging Disney merchandise? That's like starting with crystal meth and working your way to decaf coffee!
Anyway, Allred is being held on $1 million bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 12.
So remember, folks, bootlegging Disney merchandise isn't worth it! Neither is rape or kidnapping, but we already knew that, didn't we?
Learn more about Disney's Top 10 bootlegged pins here.
