Bergen Co. Man Led Multimillion-Dollar Counterfeit Conspiracy: Feds

NORTH ARLINGTON, NJ — A North Arlington man running a tech-equipment company was charged Friday for participating in a multimillion-dollar conspiracy to traffic counterfeit computer networking devices, according to federal authorities.

From September 2017 through May 2021, Musa Karaman, Israfil “David” Demir and another uncharged conspirator formed and operated numerous entities for selling computer-networking equipment, said U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. In particular, they networked devices manufactured by Cisco Systems Inc., a major U.S. technology conglomerate, according to authorities.

Karaman, of North Arlington, and his conspirators advertised the Cisco products they offered as new and genuine, but they were actually counterfeit Cisco devices procured from various illicit suppliers based in China, Sellinger said.

Federal agents executed a search warrant last May on the business's Woodland Park warehouse that Karaman and conspirators used as headquarters, according to authorities. Authorities found thousands of counterfeit Cisco devices, including 7,260 transceivers with a total manufacturer’s suggested retail price of approximately $13.77 million, according to court documents.

While the business operated, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized about $3.8 million worth of counterfeit Cisco products contained in more than 20 shipments, authorities said. The shipments went to various locations under the control of Karaman and conspirators, including their warehouses and home addresses — often under bogus names, court documents say.

Demir was charged by criminal complaint on May 26, 2021, in this investigation. Karaman was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.