The stream of awful knockoff toys has thinned today, as federal agents arrested five people, charging them with importing hazardous toys from China in violation of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act. Although the report states SpongeBob SquarePants as one of the knockoff victims distributed to stores in Brooklyn and Queens. Others included Betty Boop, Tweety Bird and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There was no mention of SpongeKnob SquareNuts, so he’s safe, hopefully.
It’s all well and good that the risk of children being exposed to lead and choking hazards has slightly diminished in New York, but here’s the most fascinating detail from the story:
During searches this morning of a warehouse and two residences, agents seized several bank accounts and confiscated a Porsche and Lexus, which the feds say were paid for by sales of the dangerous toys.
Apparently, if you hustle in the counterfeit toy game for a few years, you can acquire Porsche money.
(Photo: Wm Jas/Flickr)
