Counterfeit Couple Sentenced for $4M Fashion Scam

0:00A couple from New Britain just got hit with federal sentences for running a big counterfeit fashion hustle. Melissa Cruz, 37, and Jose Ramirez, 41, faced off in Hardford Court on Monday. Judge Vernon D. Oliver gave Cruz one-year probation and a $20,000 fine, while Ramirez got one-year probation and a $10,000 fine. They both copged guilty pleas to conspiracy charges for ripping off copyrights on designer gear. He pulled this off from 2021 to 2024, teaming up with others to sling fake clothing, luxury bags, and jewelry nationwide. Cruz ran live Facebook shows to hype and sell the knockoffs, pulling in payments through apps like cash app, PayPal, and Venmo. The scam raked in over $4 million, hurting real brands, and tricking buyers everywhere. U.S. Customs grabbed multiple packages of bogus bags from Thailand, China, and Hong Kong, headed to their spot between March 2022 and March 2023.

1:02Agents from Homeland Security Investigations, with Customs' help, raided their new Britain home on December 19, 2024, and seized nearly 2,000 fake items. On top of the fines, the judge ordered them to cough up $10,711.25 in restitution, putting a real dent in these counterfeit kings. Sarah Repp's Hartford News Today brought to you with AI.