Counterfeit Case
Four accused sellers of counterfeit luxury handbags were sentenced for money laundering and trafficking recently in Boston. The four Massachusetts residents were found guilty of selling more than $1 million in counterfeit luxury handbags and wallets at flea markets and “purse parties” in Massachusetts. In addition, the four were found to have the materials needed to manufacture the counterfeit goods under trademarked labels such as Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, Prada, Gucci, Fendi, Burberry and Coach. They ran their counterfeit operation out of 13 self-storage units in Revere, Mass., where a raid by law enforcement officers uncovered “approximately 12,231 counterfeit handbags, 7,651 counterfeit wallets, more than 17,000 generic handbags and wallets, and enough counterfeit labels and medallions to turn more than 50,000 generic handbags and wallets into counterfeits,” according to a report released by the United States Attorney’s office. Minh Vu, Katherine Luong, Camphung Luong and Kim Luong received prison sentences ranging from two to three years, and, according to the terms of the plea agreements, the four agreed to make restitution payments of more than $48,000 to the luxury-goods companies. Authorities also seized five bank accounts, more than $41,000 in cash, two cars and the counterfeit merchandise.
