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Bogus Jordans Bagged in Traffic Stop Save Email Print
Value estimated at $5 million
Posted: 4:55 PM Jul 3, 2008
Last Updated: 7:29 PM Jul 3, 2008

A | A | A

Douglas County deputies have $5 million worth of bogus footwear in custody. They snared the Air Jordan knockoffs during a traffic stop on Wednesday night.

Qing Yong Ren of California is under arrest and accused of forgery.

Authorities found the phony Air Jordans during an Interstate 80 traffic stop. There were approximately 11,000 pairs of the shoes loaded in a tractor-trailer.

Legitimate shoe dealers are glad to see the fake footwear off the street.

Brent Wachtler walked into Scheels on Thursday with one thing on his mind.

"The Jordans," he said. "I'm not even sure which ones they are but I like the style and I think they fit well so I'm going to go with them."

The legit Jordans are still hot sellers.

Chris Kenzy, with Scheels says, "A lot of these kids now, or even guys my age who grew up with it, still keep track of when these shoes release."

They come at a price.

"Sometimes in the $90 to $100 range," Kenzy says. "But a lot of stuff that re-releases can be anywhere from $145, $180 and now with the packages, those go for $310."

That's what fuels the demand for cheaper versions like those on the truck stopped on Wednesday night.

The truck was pulled over for speeding the knockoffs from New York to California via I-80.

Douglas County Sheriff's Sergeant Ed Van Buren says a Nike representative provided the $5 million figure on the confiscated fakes.

The sergeant says, "They're very grateful. He says they have a lot of problem with this and there's a huge black market in counterfeit tennis shoes."

Scheels' shoe expert Chris Kenzy knows the subtle signs of a counterfeit, "like the elephant print. Sometimes if you know your stuff, there's a different texture to it and the way it feels. The hologram -- that piece would probably be there but it wouldn't be hologram."

Brent Wachtler left Scheels on Thursday with the real deal.

The fate of the faux footwear isn't clear aside from the fact that it will be used as evidence in what could become a federal case.

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Posted by: Ex-Brit on Oct 28, 2008 at 03:07 PM
We can't afford to educate American children...but as long as they are wearing a $100 pair of shoes it's okay. And Americans wonder why the world is laughing at them. American values are completly skewed towards materialism.

Posted by: NEIIL on Oct 28, 2008 at 12:09 PM
These fake J's are making me sick!Yall boys should be ashamed coming out in the phonies man. I been buying authentics since I could work in 96'. There is nothing like a fresh pair of retros or an exclusive package.I better not see any fake blk/wht 6 rings out there.Stick to da real. Stay out da flea market, stack ya dough, and go cop u some real. . .I got a homeboy who buy them FAKE J's and he wonder why his sole talkin to him.Toes bustin out da front.LOL.Go get da restof these packages 15/8, 11/12. . . KEEP IT REAL!!!!. . . . . YALL PUNKS AIR NUTHINS!! U BUY YO J'S FROM SOME FOOL ON DA STREET, THEN THEY ARE WHATEVER HIS NAME IS. IF U BUY EM FROM BOB, THEN U GOT SOME AIR BOBS!

Posted by: Byrd on Oct 20, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I don't endourse wearing fake "Jordan's", but endourse people looking down on someone because they have a pair even less. How do you know if they were tricked into thinking they are real (i.e. ebay fake sellers). You talk about being independent because you have the real thing...then you shouldn't care if someone else doesn't. You know that yours are real and that's all that should matter. Embezzlement is a federal offense regardless if they are shoes or drugs...so the police have to do their jobs. If they stop, people might start smuggling drugs into fake "Jordan's". In any event, some of you all need to work on your grammer skills instead of worrying about what someone else is wearing. Wear I live, a lot of people drive inexpensive cars but live in million dollar homes. So, it doesn't mean you are poor, it just means you have your priorities straight. Or it just means that $150 dollar shoes is not a priority for them, they may just like the way that pair looks. Food for thought..

Posted by: Ryan on Oct 19, 2008 at 04:31 PM
If the the people leaving comments on this story would put as much money towards education as they apparently have towards shoes the world would be a much better place. Basic literacy is surprisingly rare, I guess...

Posted by: cee on Oct 13, 2008 at 04:20 AM
Who cares if your jordans are fake or not. Most of the people that pay hundreds for authentic jordans are usually not the most well-off people. What has MJ done for ya'll. If you don't own your house or your car, why pay hundreds for jordans if you can get the same ones for half that price. Even the fake jordans are made in China in some of the same factories as the authentic ones. If you're a successful person and you want to spend hundreds on Jordans, more power to you. But if you live check to check or 1st to 1st you're stupid!Get your priorities together MJ could care less about you.

Posted by: dat boy on Sep 29, 2008 at 07:19 PM
I love js and im always rockin da new ones n trust me i know the difference we have shoppin centers called bazaars 90% of the js and forces are knock offs we clown on them shoes we call them wookies are bo bo's cause a true jordan fan knows the real quality of da product we even made up a song lol!! bo bos they aint got no grip bo bo's they make you bust yo lip bo bo's u may take a big trip bo bo's etc.... lol but thanks lets get da fakes outta here.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 29, 2008 at 07:43 AM
These fake Jordans are gettin' outta hand. It's just like the police tryin' to get dope dealers off of the streets. lol It's not good for the customers at all. Hopefully, they could get ALL of the fake shoe dealers. That's would be what's up.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 15, 2008 at 03:31 PM
THEY CAN GET THEM OFF THE STREETS BUT WHAT ABOUT THESE KILLERS 'THEY CAN'T FIND OR JUST WONT ARREST'! WOW, OPD MADE A BIG ARREST ON BOGUS J'S DO SUMIN THAT MATTERS. BY THE WAY, I SHOP AT FINISH LINE FOR MY J'S.

Posted by: eric on Jul 17, 2008 at 07:56 PM
let them sale fack jordans quit blocking

Posted by: Sneaker head on Jul 17, 2008 at 06:45 PM
i get every pair of js not because i like them but because i like 2 stunt and people look at it as since i have every pair of jordans so i must have money but after i get every pair of js that come out this year im going 2 start a nike collection because they have various colors and stlyes and i can get more for my money. To all these people talkin down on people with fake js only reason they buy them is because when they show up somwhere with a shoe they think is hot you look down on them as if their some knock offs. I dont see what the hype about the shoes every shoe that comes out always have the same colors red, black, & grey. If your one of these people buying fakes js dont buy them because of the hype but start you a sneaker collection of shoes you like and find your swagg and if there is a pair of jordans thats coming out that you like save up and get them but MOST IMPORTANTLY: JUST BE YOU GET WHAT YOU LIKE AND NOT WHAT OTHERS THINK IS HOT AT THE TIME. -Sneaker Head

Posted by: dizzle on Jul 17, 2008 at 02:38 PM
if you cant afford them then just buy some cortez! or get some chucks. they are both popular. dont rock a fake to try and fit in!

Posted by: R on Jul 17, 2008 at 02:25 PM
I'm from Toronto and worked at Champs for 3 years now and I cant stand people rocking fake kicks especially Js. If you can afford them then buy them. I know alot of people complain about the price of the Jordan if that the case thats why Jordan has lower end shoes. Its the retros that are pricy and please dont complain about the packages for $310 its TWO pair of shoes in one box. People who wear fakes are LOSER. The dude above who buys real to keep and fakes to wear your a straight LOSER!!!

Posted by: KIm on Jul 17, 2008 at 12:33 PM
I am glad you all cleaning up the phony jordans. Have been wearing jordans for too long and paying too much money for someone else to be wearing a shoe that looks just like mine paying a lot less off the streets.

Posted by: C on Jul 16, 2008 at 10:41 PM
ya'll are crazy to spend $100 plus on a pair of tennishoes

Posted by: D on Jul 16, 2008 at 02:24 AM
well 1st of all I'm crazy about the official Jordan shoes and I don't like the fakes, but there's a lot of people who can't afford them... So not everybody is as fortunate as most of us...ya dig!!!

Posted by: Jericho on Jul 15, 2008 at 09:54 PM
I collect both originals and fakes. I mostly wear the fakes when I'm out. But never wear the originals since they are expensive. I keep them deadstock in my closet.

Posted by: Dizzle on Jul 15, 2008 at 04:49 PM
WOW!!! i love to see the fakes off the street. i laugh everytime i see someone wearing fakes though to be honest. if you are dumb enough to think a retro jordan is only $80 then thats your problem. these people selling fakes make good money with it. i just cant believe how many people actually buy them. i collect jordans and dont even wear most of them.

Posted by: josh on Jul 14, 2008 at 08:48 PM
i went to california just to buy the jordan retro 1 and my friend he told me the shoes that i bought were fake they shouldnt even make fake jordans because wasting money on fake ones are useless and on the real ones its worth it i think

Posted by: frankyalvarez on Jul 14, 2008 at 06:14 PM
just the quality in fake jordans don't compare to the real thing

Posted by: Deshawn on Jul 14, 2008 at 03:29 PM
i think that people should be throne in jail for 10 years of these fake jordans and should learn there lessons of fake jordns i once bought a pair of these jordans how u willl know they are fake is in a couple of weeks they will start to file down at the bottom of the shoe that's how u will know they are fake

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 13, 2008 at 02:16 AM
i feel like its cool for kids to have them and jordans now is 3 and some change some ppl can't keep up. but when anybody 20 and over wearing them they should feel just horrible.

Posted by: OHIOUGK on Jul 11, 2008 at 11:58 AM
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR REAL COLLECTORS! FAKE JORDANS ARE A EPIDEMIC THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL! PEOPLE THAT PAY AROUND $150 FOR THE REAL DEAL, HATE TO SEE BUMMY KIDS WEARING AN AWFLY SIMILAR SHOE THAT HE ONLY HAD TO PAY $60 FOR!

Posted by: Mr. Inspector on Jul 10, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Y'all wanna find fakes, just go to flea markets!!! duh! They're everywhere in them

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 10, 2008 at 11:28 AM
jordans are one of a kind shoes and yeah if you knwo your shoes you can spot out the fakes but i really dont understand why you would buy low quality fake knock off shoes? it makes no sense. if you can buy a real pair for 140 and you can buy a fake oe for 100 why wouldnt you just save or something. jordans are worth money and the longer you have the and the more you have the higher value they are.so im glad they caught this guy and if it does become a federal case thats great!

Posted by: c.j mack on Jul 10, 2008 at 10:51 AM
YEAH.. IM ALL FOR POOR PARENTS AND BUYING THEM FOR THEIR UNFOURTUNATE KIDS.. BUT WHEN I SEE GROWN MEN WITH THE KNOCK OFFS ON ITS JUST WHACK... IVE WORKED TOO HARD TO BUILD MY COLLECTION UP TO BE TAINTED BUY THESE FOOLS WHO ARE TOO OLD TO BE WEARING KNOCK OFFS...

Posted by: Prime Time on Jul 9, 2008 at 11:38 PM
First of all i would like to say thanks to Felix and Trung on there views.Yes it is ashame that we have people selling fake merchandise that is robbing money from the lest fortunate,yes there are single parents takeing bill money and food money to buy the real deal or the fake deals.So what kind of message are we sending to are kids.I agree with some of the viewers nike does not have to charge so much money for the jordans.I work hard for my money and i like to buy j"s but i can not afford to buy all the j"s especially when they have shoe release every weekend,with the price of the shoes starting at $150.00 to $310.00 dollars that is very hard to justify buying every pair that comes out.But to get back to the main story something has to be done to the people selling fake merchandise they are hurting everybody and the economy.STOP BUYING AND SELLING FAKES.To NIKE if you are reading the views show some love and lower the price"s on the j"s and don"t put so many out every month.

Posted by: marc brad on Jul 9, 2008 at 10:42 PM
People complaining about the price but its a good thing everyone cant afford the shoe cause for some jordan makes us independent. Whats the point of something if everyone has it? Im glad i can grab a pair of shoes that everyone cant get. Like some of the people say if you cant afford them theyre not for you. But thats Ok all yall fake jordan buyers there will be a time when buying, wearing or even being associated with fakes will get you arrested. Its just as illegal as buying drugs. So thats Ok keep being cheap and stilling jordans name. Your day will come when your cellmate will ask "what you in for"? "man fake J's" will be your answer. And i hope it will be worth it.

Posted by: Trung on Jul 9, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Hey felix from chicago is right im a big time jordan fan and been collegcting jordans since high school.im getting tired of seeing everyone and there mother with a pair of j's. i started collecting j's now because i couldn't afford them when i was younger but now it seems like i still can't afford them since the prices went up about 50% its ridiculous. we all know how much it cost overseas to make a pair of jordans and then he turned aroun selling them one hundred times as much. I think j's should be lowered since we got other things to worry about like FREAKEN GAS PRICES and this slow progressing economy.

Posted by: Cvze on Jul 9, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Like everyone has been saying if you can't afford the real ones don't buy them. People try very hard to get the real ones especially if they gotta work early. On the weekends. I hate seeing people with fakes on. When I see them I Just make laugh in thier face and ask the where did they buy those at. Then I'll be like Neva saw those in my life. Or this is. My. Favorite. One wen. U have real js on n some1 has the the exAct same 1 on but they fake.....lol

Posted by: john doe on Jul 9, 2008 at 02:07 AM
fake j's go cuz they cheaper and they got better colors

Posted by: joe23 on Jul 8, 2008 at 08:10 PM
first off congrats to the law with that bust.i can't stand fake J's and the people who walk around in them thinking they are so hard.I work hard to beable to buy the real ones. it makes feel good knowing mine are real and the ones who buy the realJ's are the real ballers cause we can afford them not these walking around acting tough.

Posted by: john on Jul 8, 2008 at 08:00 PM
i am very happy to see this truck get busted these bogus jordans are totaly killing the ebay and street value of these jordans mainly because they dont believe u have real ones even when u do. i am very happy and those cops sure did a good job hope more and more counterfitters get caught so the value of authentics will go back to were its suppossed to be.

Posted by: felix on Jul 8, 2008 at 03:24 PM
look why every body so focus on material things what mj has done for us? don worry ill wait dont get my wrong im a jordan fan but i got better things to spent my money on and maybe if lower the price just a little bit people wont buy the fake understand that people dont got that kind of money anymore and hard working people are't the ones buying drug dealers are the ones trust me i know i work at the athletes foot for 10 long years and thats the only kind of people tha i always saw buying this crap look save your money and send your kids to college buy a house or a car mj did and he did it with your money

Posted by: mekko Williams on Jul 8, 2008 at 11:56 AM
all of you are crazy!!!!!!! he's becoming richer!!!!!!!!! And you're becoming poorer!!!!!!!!!! A new shoe every month. It's a shame people with low income trying to buy these shoes for their kids. He should be giving some away much money as he has!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: cortney on Jul 8, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Jordans are not just a shoe it is a life style and when you cheapen the life style by wearing or buying and selling fakes you take away from that life style. There are people who work hard to maintain their image and spend there hard earned money to get the real thing. I feel bad when i see someone walking around with fakes on then they just say that they are custom i collect j's dont lie. If you want to wear fakes they should have to put fakes on the shoes. how do you think MJ would feel if he saw someone with fakes on that is like shoe slander and bull jus stop get your money up.

Posted by: vic23 on Jul 8, 2008 at 06:13 AM
@mr knock-off, First off how can u say there is nothing wrong with FAKE JORDAN..Its not cool to wear fake stuff, that mean u r cheap and have no class!!! If u cant afford them DON'T GET THEM....I HATE FAKES....If u wear fake u have no class!!!! YOU ARE BEING CHEAP!!!!!WHATS COOL ABOUT BEING CHEAP!!!!!!

Posted by: keturah p. on Jul 8, 2008 at 02:34 AM
ITS SUCH A RELIEF TO HAVE THESE LOSERS OFF THE STREETS...I ACTUALLY BOUGHT A PAIR JUST TO COMPARE TO THE REAL ONES AND THEY EVEN FEEL FAKE FROM THE SUEDE TO THE LEATHER ETC. CATCHING THESE PEOPLE HELP THOSE WHO ARENT TOO FAMILAR WITH JORDANS AND OTHER SNEAKERS OR CLOTHES GET FAMILAR WITH REAL OR FAKE!!!

Posted by: Lisa on Jul 7, 2008 at 10:29 PM
THAT LET U KNOW THAT MICHEAL JORDAN HAS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE HIM..I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY CANT U RUN YOUR OWN SHOE LINE...WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE WORLD...COUNTERFEIT MONEY..COUNTERFEIT JAYS..COUNTERFIET CLOTHES..LORD BLES OUR PEOPLE...

Posted by: Prime time on Jul 7, 2008 at 09:12 PM
Lot of people are yelling about the price of jordans,the main thing is you do not have to buy them, nike is not holding a gun to your head to buy there products.People that sell fakes are not putting the money back into the economy.Think about the the young man are young woman who is working at the footlocker or any other chain selling the real products.The money that the consumer is paying is paying these peoples bills and helping them take care of there families.The guy that got caught is not putting no money back into the economy.He is not going to pay state tax"s on his profit i seriously dout it.The police need to take the shoes and burn them all.I have seen these guys tell people that there shoes are one of a kind,that it is a color way that will not be shipped to the usa and that they are limited.The real shoe heads know what is real but the poor mom and dad does not know the shoes are fakes and they give these people there hard earn money,then they find out there is no return.

Posted by: Abel on Jul 7, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Oh yeah! It's about time these people got caught. There's so many sellers trying to put their knock-offs for sale but Jordan shoe collectors like myself know whats up. Yes depending on the color, shape, texture, the form of the shoe, and even down to the stitching, I can tell when a fake pair of Air Jordans is being worn or trying to be sold. Good Job officers, mad props!

Posted by: rob on Jul 7, 2008 at 04:50 PM
good im glad he got popped off cuz i collect them real j's and when i see lames with them fake ones its just makes me laugh tah see them phony ones ya know.. get ya money right if you cant afford them.. holla back

Posted by: marc brad on Jul 7, 2008 at 04:34 PM
All the people talking about they cost to much and they should drop prices for everyone to afford. Are you kidding me?its a business real jordans are marked at the prices they are because people are welling to pay that and much more for the shoe. The jordan name has become so much more than a shoe its a lifestyle for some. If you think jordan should mark down his shoes for EVERYONE to afford? why not mark down everything else in the world why not make houses, cars, jewerly for everyone to afford. If your not expecting to buy a benz for half the price it really cost dont expect jordan to change. Its quality people. Jordans are not for everyone and if the price was a problem most people wouldnt be lined up around the couner just to get a pair. So let keep the fakes off the streets. Also the ones who wear them should be held accountable also,your walkin around with stolen shoes on your feet.

Posted by: Mr Knock-off Himself on Jul 7, 2008 at 02:11 PM
There is nothing wrong with knock-offs i say leave them alone. Most people cant afford shoes that cost $300 dollars so they pay $60 for a pair of knock-off. Some knock-offs look very similar to real deal . These big time companies like Nike, Louis Vuitton,tiffany and etc. These compaines want you to buy there product for such a expensive price. The guy that got pulled over is not the criminal its the big companies. They charge hundreds and thousands of dollars for there product. When they know it only cost them a couple of dollars to make it in a foreign country. They pay these people over seas little to nothing in hot factories then ship the shoes to America and charge a arm and a leg. I dont feel sorry for Nike or any designer company. knock-off items is a billion dollar industry. Maybe these companies should come down on there prices and make there product affordable to everyone.

Posted by: jc on Jul 7, 2008 at 11:26 AM
im glad he got busted becuase im a jordan fan and i collect his shoes and seeing fakes really disappoints me but you know i think these ppl are right you could atleast send em to the homeless and the needy you never know who might need dem

Posted by: LECOOP on Jul 7, 2008 at 12:21 AM
IM GLAD THEY GOT ONE OF MANY OF THESE CON ARTIST OFF THE STREET CUZ BUYING FAKE JORDANS IS LIKE TRIPPIN ON THE STAGE OF GRADUATION

Posted by: ? on Jul 6, 2008 at 08:11 PM
i hate bootleggers, its good to have them off the streets

Posted by: ED on Jul 5, 2008 at 08:23 PM
To So What: So counterfeiting isn't a big deal? In my world, I don't want to pay big bucks for a knock-off of anything. Donating them to the poor might not be such a good idea, because some can go out and sell them for a lot of money to unsuspecting people who think they are only getting stolen goods. I agree they deserve what they get, but that isn't a good solution. I have seen knock-off counterfeits marked in some way - a clear color marking or a cut out area, etc.,- which could be done before giving them away.

Posted by: Fake Name on Jul 4, 2008 at 09:34 PM
To BJ: What don't you get? This was 11,000 pairs of counterfeit shoes worth an estimated $5 million dollars! And you suggest just letting this guy go? Obviously you have no idea what you're talking about. This is still a criminal. He may not have killed or raped someone, but he's still a criminal. That would be why this "was worthy of the polices time and efforts"!

Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 4, 2008 at 07:20 PM
What can make a tennis shoe worth 90 to 300 dollars. Any one who pays that much should not be complaining about the high cost of gas. As for me in Korea maybe the US should stop buying stuff from there they are making such a fuss sbout buying our beef we should stop importing from them. Close our bases there and see what effwect that has on them.

Posted by: BJ on Jul 4, 2008 at 11:33 AM
SO WHAT??? This was worthy of the polices time and efforts?? There are all kinds of knock off brands of every item sold!!! I dont get this one at all! Who cares? Let the guy alone.

Posted by: We but the real thing. on Jul 4, 2008 at 07:40 AM
Who would buy knock off Jordans he obviously sells them at a knock off store if you can not afford to get them from places like Finish Line chances are you don't need them because you probably can not afford them.Also everyone who is a Jordan fan knows the real from fake.

Posted by: Kate on Jul 4, 2008 at 05:38 AM
First I must applaud the Douglas County Sheriff's office for training the officers. I'd also like to hear if the trucking company will be charged or if this was a one-man operation. My idea as to the final fate of the counterfeit shoes would be an on-line auction on E-Bay and the proceeds given to the Dept of Justice who'll be prosecuting the case to cover costs and the Douglas County Sheriff's office for additional equipment or fuel!

Posted by: me on Jul 3, 2008 at 11:29 PM
this is why i love korea. we can get knock offs legally and for sooo much cheaper...I agree with HERE...give 'em to the homeless and needy!

Posted by: Here on Jul 3, 2008 at 07:18 PM
I say give them to the homeless, and needy, that are here legally. Also send them to other countries that could really use them.

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