Crime Museum Reveals Dark Side of Counterfeiting

The Crime Museum’s latest interactive gallery asks the question: “Counterfeit Crimes: Are You Part of the Black Market?” It will teach visitors of all ages about counterfeit products – sold on prices far lower than the original — that hurt businesses, lead to loss of jobs and can injure consumers using unsafe products.

The museum, in partnership with the International Anti-Counterfeiting Association and the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, opened up its newest gallery that offers in-depth examination on counterfeit crimes June 23. It is the first of its kind in the United States.
“What many don’t realize is that the counterfeit trade is organized crime on a global scale, and the counterfeiters don’t care who gets hurt,” said Robert Barchiesi, president of the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition. “We want the public to understand the real price of counterfeit goods.”
Some of the counterfeit artifacts on display include, purses, video game consoles, sports jerseys and other electronics.

“The crimes outlined in our other galleries have primarily been those that are obvious crimes, for which the public generally comprehends the crime and the resulting punishment,” said Janine Vaccarello, chief operating officer of the Crime Museum. “As always, our mission at the Crime Museum is to educate utilizing interactive and informative exhibits and this gallery has allowed us to do that while touching upon an area we are all familiar with—consumerism.”

The new gallery will replace the former America’s Most Wanted Studio located on the museum’s lower level. The museum is located at 575 7th St., NW, less than a block from the Chinatown-Gallery Place Metro Station (Arena Exit). Regular business hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday. More information on daily hours and ticket prices are available at www.crimemuseum.org.