All in the Family: Brothers-in-Law Accused of Making Fake Cell Phones

Nassau County law enforcement officials announced the arrest of two Wantagh brothers-in-law on Thursday on charges of counterfeiting Apple and Samsung cellphones and accessories.

“Real cash, fake products. The family business of counterfeiters is now being held accountable,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran at a news conference at the Levittown Fire Department, standing behind a  table filled with stacks of money and counterfeit devices.

Sumesh Pasricha, 48, and Luthra Gurcharan, 37, were arrested after a four-month joint investigation by Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Nassau County Police Department and the Nassau County DA’s Office that  uncovered both men allegedly selling the counterfeits  out of a residence on 1420 Poulson Street and a warehouse on 1228 Wantagh Avenue.

“If these goods were legitimate they would’ve been valued at over $40 million,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent Frank Russo.

On March 27, police seized approximately $1.1 million dollars in cash, a 2016 Mercedes, two 2015 Toyotas, and multiple counterfeit phones, parts, and packaging.

The investigation entitled, “Bad Apples” began in November of 2017 after U.S. Customs and Border Protection uncovered a shipment coming from China to JFK airport with 200 counterfeit Apple ear buds going to Gurcharan.

Both Pasricha and Gurcharan would repair Apple and Samsung phones with counterfeit parts, repackage them with counterfeit packaging, and sell them as new for half the price of the original market value. Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder called the phones, “Frankenstein phones”.

“This is a bigger problem than a billion-dollar company losing revenue,” said DA Madeline Singas. “It’s about customers spending their hard-earned money on expensive products that they think are real and having their money essentially go down the drain. But on top of that, it points down to safety.”

Ryder added that, “the counterfeit parts that go into these phones can have batteries that go on fire, and that could end up in your child’s hand.”

Homeland Security agent, Erik Rosenblatt also stressed the danger when purchasing counterfeit products from unauthorized users saying, “An online marketplace does not guarantee the sale of authentic items.”