The Latest: Tagged 'downtown vendors'

Photo by Simon Q via Flickr Creative Commons

Street boutique

Federal officials issued a caveat emptor today in their indictment of a downtown vendor charged with selling fake handbags and other accessories: some of those cheap knockoff goods could contain poisonous lead.

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement announced today that Leticia Nunez, 38, was charged following her arrest yesterday for allegedly trafficking in counterfeit goods. Nunez, who operated two booths downtown, faces two counts on that charge and could get up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Federal agents said they worked alongside LAPD detectives in searching Nunez’s businesses, including a Los Angeles storage facility she rents. What they found probably surprises no one: fake Tiffany jewelry, fake Chanel handbags, fake Dior, fake Bvlgari, fake Juicy Couture, etc. According to special agents, “the seized items represent an estimated loss in revenue to the legitimate trademark holders of more than $130,000.”