ISLAND PARK, N.Y. – Authorities on Thursday seized boxes of counterfeit Nintendo Switch bases, adapters, and Pokémon Go accessories from a warehouse in Island Park, arresting Isaac Lapidus, 34, on felony forgery charges.
Counterfeit Gaming Gear Operation Busted
Man arrested for selling fake Nintendo products totaling over $2 million.
- Police seized fake Nintendo Switch and Pokémon Go accessories from an Island Park warehouse.
- Isaac Lapidus, 34, was arrested and charged with felony forgery.
- The operation, run since 2018, allegedly sold over $2 million in counterfeit goods.
- Amazon alerted authorities after receiving numerous customer complaints.
- More arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues.
The raid, conducted on Thursday, uncovered a significant cache of fake gaming accessories. Lapidus faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the Class C felony.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly stated, “In fact, it was Amazon who introduced it to us.” She added that the online retail giant flagged numerous returns and complaints related to products sold by Lapidus’s accounts.
After noticing suspicious vendor activity, Amazon collaborated with Nintendo to verify the fakes. The companies then alerted local law enforcement, initiating the investigation that led to Lapidus’s arrest.
Investigators claim Lapidus had been operating this counterfeiting scheme since 2018. He allegedly used five Amazon seller accounts to distribute fake merchandise across the country. The vendor names included Pandavida Inc., Unibabe, Product ABC, This will also happen, and Zuzu Cares 4 U (now operating as Arminthore).
All five accounts listed the warehouse at 4217 Austin Boulevard in Island Park, owned by Lapidus, as their shipping address. Records indicate sales of over 200,000 Nintendo Switch bases, 10,000 adapters, and more than 15,000 Pokémon Go Plus accessories. The total sales reportedly exceeded $2 million.
Amazon has pledged to reimburse customers who purchased the counterfeit items. A statement from the company emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for fake products and its ongoing collaboration with Nintendo of America and law enforcement since 2023.
“Once this problem has been identified, we act quickly to protect customers and the Nintendo brand, eliminating falsification ads and blocking relevant sales accounts,” Amazon stated.
Hall also voiced concern that the counterfeit products were primarily intended for children. “It’s disgusting. These products are for children,” she added.
Experts note that counterfeit electronics are increasingly common. Jake Marquina, corporate trainer at an electronics exchange store, inspects products daily for authenticity. “At the national level, they ask us daily: ‘Is this real?'” Marquina said. “One or two in a hundred Nintendo articles that we review turn out to be false.”
He pointed out that fake Nintendo products often have subtle but noticeable defects. “There is an impression that is missing, blurred letters or an incorrect source. It is subtle, but important,” he explained.
Donnelly warned that counterfeit electronics pose not only an economic threat but also a security risk. “He made a lot of money doing something very dangerous,” she said. “When counterfeit electronic products are sold, fear is always that they can cause a fire.”
Nintendo’s review of the seized products revealed incorrect serial numbers, defective Japanese characters, and erroneous designs – clear indicators of their inauthentic nature.
Lapidus pleaded not guilty and was released on probation. He is scheduled to return to court on September 18. His lawyer told NBC New York that Lapidus was unaware of the falsification and had no intention to deceive anyone.
Lapidus’s lawyer also stated that police found no manufacturing tools or devices for counterfeit products at the warehouse.
Authorities expect more arrests in the coming days as the investigation expands. “We know I had business with another person,” Donnelly said. “We intend to arrest it next week.”
