BOSTON -- A Chicago man who played forward for the Boston Celtics during the 90s was arrested Friday on charges that he was selling counterfeit sneakers at his mall shop.

Police said 500 pairs of knock-off Nike sneakers were seized from a store owned by former NBA player Nate Driggers. Driggers, 36, played 15 games for the Celtics during the 1996-97 season. Police also seized 10 pounds of marijuana from the store, worth an estimated $30,000.

The arrest followed a two-month investigation of the shop that was prompted by complaints from officials at Nike, according to Markham Police Deputy Chief Tony DeBois. DeBois said that an undercover officer purchased a pair of counterfeit Air Jordans from the store before the raid. The shoes, which retail for about $150, were on sale at Driggers’ shop for $35, according to Driggers.

“The irony of the whole thing is that he was an individual who played in the NBA for a limited time,” said DeBois. “He was a professional athlete and he’s selling counterfeit, bootleg shoes once his career is over. It’s like, 'Wow.'"

Nike officials had been monitoring the store for at least a year, according to DeBois, who said that Driggers was purchasing counterfeit products from a supplier in New York. He said more arrests are likely to follow the raid.

Driggers and an employee at the shop will be charged with unauthorized use of trademark.