MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Police announced the arrests of a couple who were found with fake luxury items inside their home.
Social Media posts and undercover police work helped build the counterfeit case.
Inside the home of the unassuming Miami Gardens couple was what police said was the headquarters of a counterfeit luxury store where 32-year-old Mayrelis Marquez Plans and 33-year-old Yuri Rafael Velazquez-Garcia sold knockoff Louis Vuitton merchandise.
They appeared in court Wednesday, one day after police arrested them at their home on Northwest 185th Street.
Police said the investigation began in July after a detective saw an influencer’s Instagram post.
That influencer is not connected to the crime, police said, while the video shows counterfeit clothing, handbags and shoes displayed for sale.
It led to two undercover buys in which police said they purchased clothes, handbags and accessories that were all confirmed as counterfeit.
In one deal, police said a detective paid $180 in cash for a handbag and shirt with a real retail value of nearly $9,000.
An arrest affidavit says detectives executed a search warrant and took more than 500 counterfeit items into custody.
Police say the couple offered nationwide shipping and flaunted their counterfeit items on social media.
They had nothing to say to Local 10 News’ cameras after bonding out of jail Wednesday evening.
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