BOSTON –A Chelsea man was charged today in U.S. District Court in Boston with trafficking in counterfeit Apple, Inc. iPhone components at three retail locations in the Boston area.

 

Arif Ali Shah, 66, was charged with trafficking in counterfeit iPhone components that bore Apple trademarks – the Apple icon and the iPhone word mark – but were not genuine Apple products.

 

It is alleged that between approximately 2005 and February 2015, Shah sold counterfeit Apple merchandise at his three retail locations: Nadia’s in Dorchester, East Boston Wireless in East Boston and Todo Wireless in Chelsea. Shah also repaired genuine iPhones at his stores using counterfeit components. Shah purchased the counterfeit merchandise from sources both outside the United States and from a domestic supplier. Shah knew that the goods were counterfeit, but nonetheless sold and attempted to sell thousands of pieces of counterfeit merchandise.

 

The trafficking statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Acting United States Attorney William Weinreb and Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Harman Burkart of Weinreb’s Cybercrime Unit is prosecuting the case.

 

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.