MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Miami-Dade police arrested a 28-year-old man Tuesday who they said sold two victims fake gold chains and a fake Rolex watch.
Petre Gunici faces charges of organized scheme to defraud and third-degree grand theft.
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According to his arrest report, the Russian national approached the victims on March 4 in the 8700 block of Southwest Eighth Street.
The victims told police that Gunici told them he had gold jewelry for sale and they purchased two gold chains, a Rolex watch and a gold bracelet for a total sum of $3,000.
Police said the jewelry was stamped with 18 karat Italian gold and 14 karat Italian gold markings.
But the victims contacted police April 7 once they realized the jewelry was fake as it had begun to cause skin discoloration, the report stated.
According to the report, Gunici had tried to sell more items to the victims after their initial purchase.
On Monday, both victims identified Gunici to police in a photo lineup.
According to the report, police began a surveillance operation on Gunici Monday and spotted him approaching people at shopping centers and gas stations, trying to sell them jewelry.
He was eventually pulled over while driving a black GMC Yukon with a New York license plate and was taken into custody.
Police said Gunici provided a confession to detectives, however his full statement was redacted from the publicly released report.
According to the arrest report, officers searched Gunici’s vehicle and found a brown Louis Vuitton bag filled with fake jewelry pieces, including “three fake Rolex watches, 46 gold-colored medallions, 29 yellow bracelets, 18 yellow necklaces and 48 yellow rings, all stamped with 18 and 14 karat markings.”
Police said the jewelry was impounded into evidence for trial.