A man and woman are facing charges after over $500,000 worth of counterfeit Louis Vuitton merchandise was found at a Miami Gardens home, authorities said.
Yuri Rafael Velazquez-Garcia, 33, and Mayrelis Marquez-Plans, 32, were arrested Tuesday on charges of counterfeiting private labels, records showed.
According to arrest reports, the investigation into the pair began in July after an investigator spotted an Instagram post showing a home described as a Louis Vuitton storefront that had handbags, clothing and shoes displayed for sale.
Miami-Dade Corrections
Miami-Dade Corrections
Yuri Rafael Velazquez-Garcia and Mayrelis Marquez-Plans
The man in the video was identified as Velazquez-Garcia, and property records confirmed the home on Northwest 185th Street is owned by him, the reports said.
Investigators began conducting surveillance that showed activity consistent with counterfeit sales.
They also found social media accounts that linked Velazquez-Garcia and Marquez-Plans, and posts that advertised nationwide shipping, the reports said.
Detectives met with a brand specialist/private investigator who reviewed the social media posts and confirmed the merchandise was counterfeit.
Last month, an undercover deputy began controlled purchases at the home, and was escorted by Marquez-Plans at the home before Velazquez-Garcia offered the merchandise for sale, the reports said.
In one encounter, the deputy purchased a handbag with a normal purchase price of $7,550 and a shirt with a purchase price of $1,070 for $180 cash.
During a second controlled purchase, the deputy bought a bathing suit, belt, cap and shirt with a total MSRP of $3,435 for $250 in cash.
A Louis Vuitton manager certified the items were counterfeit, the reports said.
On Tuesday, detectives conducted a search warrant at the home and Velazquez-Garcia and Marquez-Plans were taken into custody.
Over 500 pieces of counterfeit items were found in the home and seized. If authentic, would have been worth over $500,000, the reports said.
Velazquez-Garcia and Marquez-Plans were booked into jail, where records showed their bond was set at $5,000 each.
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