Rowlett police say a man has been arrested following a multi-agency investigation into a social media-based distribution operation that led to the seizure of more than 62,000 suspected counterfeit luxury items.
Police said in a news release that the investigation began on Feb. 9 after they received a tip that counterfeit merchandise was being sold via Facebook Live and distributed from various locations in Rowlett.
On Feb. 17, detectives arrested a man and seized 62,694 suspected counterfeit items worth approximately $208,000, as well as a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado, police said.
Police said if the counterfeit items were genuine, they would be worth more than $101.6 million, with an estimated street value of about $995,276.
Orlando Gonzalez Marcella was charged with trademark counterfeiting worth more than $300,000, a first-degree felony, and was being held at the Dallas County Jail, officials said. Rowlett police said an arrest warrant has been issued for Aida Karina Lopez Alvarez, but she remains at large.
“Counterfeiting is not a victimless crime,” Rowlett principal Michael Denning said in a statement. “Such operations deceive consumers, harm legitimate businesses and often fund wider criminal activity.”
The investigation involves the Rowlett Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the VanZant County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as anti-counterfeiting experts representing brands including Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada, officials said.