by Jerry Burke
Detectives from the Nassau County Crimes Against Property Squad report that the two owners in question were arrested last week for selling fake designer items at their respective businesses. On Tuesday, Dec. 10, at around 10:30 a.m., an investigation culminated in the arrest of Harminder Bhasin, 33, of Glen Cove.
Bhasin, the owner of the Mobil Gas Station at 144 Hempstead Tpk., was allegedly selling fake Rolex watches and Oakley sunglasses. Crimes Against Property commanding officer Det. Lt. Ronald Mueller said the items seized at Bhasin's station would have been valued at over $45,000 if they were the real deal.
A few minutes later, police moved in on the owner of the Shell Gas Station down the road, at 590 Hempstead Tpk. Police say owner Muhammad Mian, 42, of West Hempstead was also selling designer knockoff watches, sunglasses and pocketbooks that, if real, would be valued at about $27,000.
With the holiday season in full gear, Mueller said reports like these are more common. "It's something the [luxury goods industries are] really cracking down on," he explained. "Some people think they're buying a genuine product."
Both Bhasin and Mian were charged with second-degree trademark counterfeiting and have been issued desk-appearance tickets. Both could face a maximum of four years in prison if convicted.
Neither Bhasin and Mian could be reached for comment, but an employee of one of the stations said that the practice of selling the far cheaper knockoffs is very common. "How the heck could someone walk into a gas station and think they're getting a real Rolex for $40?" he said. "You'd have to be pretty stupid."
Nevertheless, trademark counterfeiting is a crime that experts estimate costs legitimate businesses billions of dollars each year. The practice is so widespread that exact numbers may never be known.
The public-relations departments of both the Exxon Mobil Corporation, parent company of Mobil gas stations, and the Shell Oil Corporation were unaware of the charges but spokespersons for both said they do not condone such actions and would look into the situations further.
