Copper Tree Vendor Charged with Selling Counterfeit Goods

By Devin McGinley

A Copper Tree Mall vendor has been arrested and charged with selling counterfeit merchandise to customers who believed they were getting high-end brands at a discount, police said.

Oakland detectives arrested Iris Duarte-Garcia, 42, of Butler on June 14 after being tipped off about the alleged counterfeits being sold at a stand within the mall, the department said.

Detectives confiscated about a hundred items that police said included over 40 handbags and accessories falsely branded as Louis Vuitton, and 19 watches, sandals, and handbags sold as Michael Kors.

Other designer brands that she had allegedly counterfeited included Coach, Gucci, Rolex, and Juicy Couture.

“All items were being offered for sale well below [prices] for similar genuine products,” Oakland lieutenant Christian Eldridge said.