HUSBAND AND WIFE CHARGED WITH MANUFACTURING AND POSSESSING FAKE DESIGNER PURSES

HUSBAND AND WIFE CHARGED WITH MANUFACTURING AND POSSESSING FAKE DESIGNER PURSES

The purses, if real, would retail at more than $1.5 million

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announces the filing of charges against a Westminster couple for manufacturing and possessing for sale counterfeit designer purses in the name of — Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, TODS, Gucci, Fendi, and Prada.  Sarkis Wartan Kivork, 56, and his wife, Alice Kivork, 45, are charged with two felony counts of manufacturing of a counterfeit mark, two felony counts of possession for sale of a counterfeit mark, and three misdemeanor counts of selling more than $1,000 worth of a counterfeit mark.   If convicted, the couple faces up to 11 years and 4 months in state prison.

On two different dates this year, the Kivorks are accused of possessing in their home, stamping presses and other materials needed to make fake purses that exactly resembled high-priced designer bags.  The husband and wife are also accused of then selling the items at the swap meet in Costa Mesa.

In May, investigators bought fake designer purses from the couple’s business at the swap meet, and over 2,478 counterfeit items displaying the brand names of these manufacturers were found in the couple’s Westminster home.  The retail value of these items, if real, would be $559, 000.  On November 1, 2003, investigators purchased fake designer purses from the couple’s business at the same swap meet and later recovered over 1,400 counterfeit items totaling one million dollars, if real, in the couple’s home.

The couple is due to be arraigned today at the Central Justice Center, C-55 at 9 AM.  Their bail is set at $1 million and the prosecutors will be asking the court to make a finding that their bail money is from a legitimate source. Senior Deputy District Attorney Randy Pawloski will vertically prosecute the case in the Economic Crimes unit.