Counterfeit sports paraphernalia discovered throughout Sussex County

Police confiscating fake sports hats at a Georgetown liquor store and a number of cigarette shops after an investigation; officers with the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement noticing a large number of professional sports team hats during an inspection of One Stop Liquor Mart in January; liquor stores are prohibited from selling pro sports team hats, according to a spokesman, and the hats themselves were determined to be phony.

Authorities found counterfeit hats at other stores including Dot Discount Cigarettes in Millsboro, Selbyville, Lewes, Bethany Beach and Georgetown.  A total of 2,321 hats were confiscated with an estimated value of more than $27,000 dollars.   Authorities learned the hats were distributed by a company from Pennsylvania which is not licensed to do business in Delaware; the owner of the company turned himself in to authorities and is charged with felony trademark counterfeiting and other charges.