An African man pleaded guilty Monday to having dozens of counterfeit Nike tennis shoes and will likely be deported following the crime.
Alio Ango, 39, of Wind Road, Greensboro, pleaded guilty to felony criminal use of a counterfeit trademark. Graham police charged him with possession of 77 pairs of counterfeit Nike sneakers on Aug. 29, 2010. Ango was arrested April 19 and remained in the Alamance County jail until Monday’s hearing.
Following the hearing, Alamance County Assistant District Attorney Larry Brown said Graham police didn’t have evidence that Ango was selling the shoes, only that they were counterfeited and he had possession of them.
Defense attorney Brad Buchanan told Superior Court Judge Elaine M. Bushfan that Ango was “trying to survive.” Ango speaks very limited English and has no formal education, Buchanan said.
Ango speaks Hausa, a language common in the west African nations of Niger and Nigeria. It was unclear where he was born. His hearing was delayed for some time while the court located an interpreter fluent in Hausa.
He had no prior criminal record.
Bushfan issued an active three- to four-month sentence with credit for 189 days spent in jail. Payment of court costs and $450 for attorney fees were waived. Following the hearing, Ango was placed in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is likely he will be deported.
Bushfan ordered the counterfeit shoes be given to a charitable organization or destroyed.
