Broadway Mall store owner charged with counterfeiting, cops say

A West Babylon man was arrested Sunday and charged with trademark counterfeiting after police said detectives were alerted that he was selling counterfeited clothing and other items at his store in the Broadway Mall in Hicksville.

Tirath Chugh, 48, of Second Street, was arrested in Hicksville at 8:05 p.m. and charged with two counts of second-degree trademark counterfeiting and one count of third-degree trademark counterfeiting, Nassau County police said. He faces arraignment Monday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said the counterfeit goods were being sold at Premium Lounge, a store in the mall that Chugh owns. An Instagram site for the store shows pictures of new items in stock, labeled as designer T-shirts, pants, shoes and other types of clothing.

Update: In July 2017, the Suffolk County District Court dismissed Chugh’s criminal charges after an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, court records show.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”