New York Man Arrested Selling $2M Counterfeit Nintendo, Pokémon GO Products

Isaac Lapidus, a 34-year-old man from Lawrence, New York, has been arrested and charged with operating a multimillion-dollar counterfeit scheme selling fake Nintendo products and Pokémon GO accessories through multiple Amazon seller accounts. Prosecutors allege he imported counterfeit items from China and the Philippines, stored them in an Island Park warehouse, and sold hundreds of thousands of fake Switch docking stations, adapters, and Pokémon GO Plus accessories, generating over $2 million in sales. The operation was exposed after Amazon and Nintendo flagged suspicious products following numerous customer complaints about poor quality and inconsistencies compared to authentic merchandise. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly highlighted the dangers of counterfeit electronics, including potential fire hazards, and urged consumers to shop cautiously by checking reviews and buying directly from manufacturers. Lapidus pleaded not guilty and has been released with an ankle monitor, but faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 18, 2025.