Skokie Counterfeit Operation Busted

More than $250,000 of counterfeit clothing was seized from a Skokie business owner last week, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Ki Hwan Ahn, 49, of the 400 block of Dogwood Terrace in Buffalo Grove, was charged with one count of selling more than 2,000 counterfeit items and one count of manufacturing counterfeit items.

Investigators raided his warehouse, BB Box in the 5500 block of Touhy Avenue, and seized phony NFL, MLB and NBA apparel. In total, officers seized about 10,000 counterfeit items valued around $250,000, according to the sheriff’s department.

The warehouse contained large embroidery machines used to design counterfeit logos and many items were already packaged for delivery, while other merchandise was being produced, according to a press release Wednesday from the department. 

As officers executed the warrant, workers were manufacturing Chicago Bears hats, the release said. Officers seized computer software and hardware used to create and store the counterfeit logos.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Special Operation Unit began investigating Ahn in March, after receiving a report from a concerned citizen that suspicious activity was taking place at the Skokie storefront and warehouse, according to the county sheriff’s department.

Over the course of several weeks, investigators conducted surveillance at the location and determined that Ahn was engaged in counterfeiting.

Ahn appeared in bond court in Skokie on Saturday. His next court date is April 14.