| For Immediate Release July 29th, 2005 |
Contact: | Mark Macaulay Media Relations Spokesperson (714) 347-8405 |
BOGUS BURBERRY, COUNTERFEIT COACH, FAKE FENDI, PHONY PRADA GOODS SELLER SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR SEVEN FELONIES
Santa Ana – Dep Nguyen, 54, of Garden Grove, pled guilty today to selling counterfeit goods at her two stores in Westminster. The products were knock-offs of some of the most exclusive name brands in the world including Prada, Versace, Gucci, Coach, Burberry, Fendi and Louis Vuitton. Nguyen pled guilty to seven felony counts of possessing counterfeit goods for sale and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, five years formal probation and $95,300 in restitution. Nguyen faces up to eight years in prison if she violates probation.
On June 25, 2004, the Westminster Police Department confiscated over $100,000 in pirated goods from two Diem Phuong locations at 9200 Bolsa Avenue and 9090 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster. The seized items included hand bags, suitcases, purses, belts and wallets. Nguyen sold the counterfeit goods at a fraction of the price of the authentic name brand products.
Selling counterfeit goods robs the owners of the trademarks of the profit from their possible sales and hurts the intellectual property of others. People who would consider buying counterfeited goods should consider their part in funding an underground economy that also cheats the government out of tax revenues.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Dennis Bauer in the Economic Crimes unit prosecuted the case.
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