A store in Johnstown’s West End has been peddling hundreds of counterfeit movies along with fake shoes, purses, handbags and sunglasses, police said.
Employees at Smoke ’N Jokes, 245 Strayer St., also are accused of selling pornography and tobacco to juveniles.
“It was part of an ongoing investigation,” city police Chief Craig Foust said Thursday. “We were conducting controlled buys and surveillance.”
Three men have been charged in connection with an investigation and subsequent police raid at the store:
• Rasheed H. Lawton, 27, of the 300 block of Strayer Street.
• Demarko M. Sutter, 31, of the 100 block of Strayer Street.
• Vinzeal T. Wolf, 36, of the 500 block of Ash Street.
Police executed a search warrant at the business Wednesday and said they found about 300 counterfeit – or illegally copied – DVDs. Also seized were “computers and related equipment to manufacture said movies,” a criminal affidavit says.
Movies allegedly for sale at the store included “Hellboy II” and “Baby Mama,” which are not yet legally available on DVD. Counterfeit music CDs also were found, court documents show.
Police said they also saw shoes and purses with fake Louis Vuitton labels as well as shoes bearing false Coach labels.
The department used undercover officers and confidential informants to buy items at the store, which had “obscene material that was clearly visible to minors,” court papers say.
In one instance, police said a
17-year-old operating under police supervision bought two pornographic movies, a counterfeit copy of “Baby Mama” and two flavored cigars.
The juvenile was not asked to show identification, police said. The 17-year-old reported that the clerk also tried to sell a pair of Oakley sunglasses for $5.
Foust said police decided that the store, which is in a residential area, should be a “high-priority target” during the investigation.
“We felt it was important to take action,” he said.
Local News
West End store sold counterfeit goods, police say
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
