The holiday season invariably brings with it a trendy toy that dominates children’s Christmas wish lists. The 1990s saw an overwhelming demand for entities like Tickle Me Elmo and Furby. In the advent of the 1980s, Cabbage Patch Kids dolls took the market by storm, so much so that stores struggled to replenish their stocks. Interestingly, this overwhelming demand led to an unexpected event, where multiple individuals in Henrico County started trading in counterfeits to capitalize on the shortage.
An intriguing episode unfolded in December 1984 when Charles Frith became the first person to be arrested for selling fake Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, courtesy of a sting operation conducted by the Henrico police. During this month, a real and a counterfeit Cabbage Patch doll were juxtaposed for distinction.
Referred to as a solitary incident of its kind across the nation, the Henrico County police apprehended a resident of Highland Springs under the charges of dealing in counterfeit Cabbage Patch Kid dolls. Even after production ceased two years earlier, these dolls, recognizable by their round plastic faces and unique packaging, remained an instant hit.
The exclusive packaging featured a birth certificate and adoption papers, strengthening their appeal to the children. The dolls’ popularity skyrocketed during the festive shopping period of 1983, leading to quick sellouts and causing chaotic situations among shoppers. The pandemonium sometimes escalated to injury and nearly triggered mayhem.
The dolls’ demand persisted throughout 1984, proven by the fact that they were continually sold out. This was evident when Jefferson Ward at Beaufont Mall, Chesterfield County, exhausted its stock of 200 dolls on November 23rd. However, with increasing demand, the market saw an influx of counterfeit dolls, creating a parallel black market.
This increase led federal authorities to label the situation as an ‘epidemic.’ There were several instances where the FBI interdicted multiple counterfeit operations, leading to the confiscation of thousands of counterfeit dolls throughout the nation. Interestingly, it was a citizen of Henrico County who embarked on his own journey to scrutinize the authenticity of these dolls.
The lawyer for Original Appalachian Artworks Inc., the trademark and copyright holders of the dolls, contributed to this process. They supplied a genuine model to be used as a benchmark against the counterfeits. Although the FBI was also engaged in scrutinizing these counterfeit dolls, no detentions were executed by them at this point.
On the contrary, raids conducted elsewhere across the nation led to the discovery and seizure of counterfeit dolls in Atlanta and Detroit. The breakthrough in the investigation process came when a woman who responded to a newspaper advertisement for a Cabbage Patch doll raised an alarm after doubting the legitimacy of the seller.
This concern initiated several new leads in the scrutiny process. Meanwhile, the name of a particular suspect continually came to the fore. In an undercover mission, officers bought dolls from a marketplace stall. These dolls, upon examination, were verified to be counterfeits as they didn’t hold the company’s official stamp on the back of their heads.
Moreover, when these dolls were examined in a laboratory, they were found to contain an insecticide named propoxur, often used for eliminating ants and roaches. As this chemical is a well-known pesticide, the police had earlier warned about the hazardous health implications of the fake dolls.
Finally, on December 12, the prime suspect was apprehended at his residence. He was then officially indicted on three charges of theft along with one for false advertising. Due to these offences, he was handed a suspended sentence and asked to pay a fine amounting to $100.
Additionally, he was directed to pay restitution of $103. The narrative of this notorious incident in Henrico County, however, did not end there. A second individual, also suspected of dealing in counterfeit dolls, was arrested by police on December 13, 1984. Regardless, these charges were ultimately ruled out.