Yuri Rafael Velazquez-Garcia, 33, and Mayrelis Marquez-Plans, 32, have been charged after officials discovered over $500,000 in counterfeit Louis Vuitton products inside a Miami Gardens residence.
Per arrest reports, the investigation into the two started in July when a detective saw an Instagram post of a house that was described as a Louis Vuitton storefront with shoes, clothes, and purses on display for sale.
WSVN reports that the couple called their illegal operation “the Louis Vuitton of Hialeah.” According to sources, the man in the video was identified as Velazquez-Garcia, and property records verified that he is the owner of the house on Northwest 185th Street.
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After they started surveillance, investigators observed activity that was consistent with the sale of counterfeit goods.
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According to the reports, they also came across posts promoting nationwide shipment and social media profiles that connected Velazquez-Garcia and Marquez-Plans, as reported by NBC Miami.
A brand expert/private investigator met with detectives, examined the social media posts and verified the goods were fake.
Last month, Marquez-Plans escorted an undercover deputy who started making controlled purchases at the house before Velazquez-Garcia put the goods up for sale, according to the reports.
During one encounter, the deputy paid $180 in cash for a shirt that cost $1,070 and a handbag that would normally cost $7,550. During a second controlled purchase, the deputy paid $250 cash for a swimming suit, belt, cap, and shirt with a total MSRP of $3,435.
On September 9, the couple were detained on suspicion of counterfeiting private labels, according to documents.
On the day of the arrest, detectives executed a search warrant at the home, and Velazquez-Garcia and Marquez-Plans were taken into custody.
Over 500 counterfeit products were discovered and seized from the premises. According to estimates, if the items were genuine, they would have been worth more than $500,000.
On Wednesday morning, Velazquez-Garcia and Marquez-Plans made an appearance before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer.
“You were arrested for counterfeiting goods or services, over $1,000,” said the judge.
When addressing Marquez Plans, Glazer stated, “I’ll give you $5,000 bond. Thank you, have a nice day. You have a good lawyer, listen to what he tells you.”
Velazquez-Garcia and Marquez-Plans were given a $5,000 bond each, according to the jail records.
The two are charged with felony counterfeiting involving goods worth $20,000 or more. They have since been released from jail on bond.
