4 stores accused of selling counterfeit bags shut down

Originally published in the Philadelphia Daily News on October 3, 2009

By CHRISTINE OLLEY olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184

Prada and Gucci and Coach, oh, my!
Too bad they were fake.
Investigators yesterday removed trash bag after trash bag filled with faux designer accessories from four South Street stores raided for allegedly selling counterfeit goods, police said.
The stores - VV Gift Shop, Discovers Handbags, the Number One Harvest Handbags and Lucky Stone Jewelry, Handbags, and Accessories - were raided about noon after a two-month investigation by a local private firm in conjunction with Philadelphia police.
Three shop owners or managers were arrested and charged, police said, with trademark counterfeiting, deceptive business practices, conspiracy and related offenses: Liu Xin, 32, of Voorhees, N.J., at Lucky Stone; Yi Li, 43, of 5th Street near Fairhill in East Oak Lane, at Number One Harvest; Ping Zhenh, 45, of Arch Street near 9th in Chinatown, at Discovers Handbags.
No arrest were made at VV Gift Shop, which did not open for business yesterday, police said.
The Department of Licenses and Inspections shut down the stores and posted cease-work signs in the windows as investigators were taking inventory of the counterfeit goods.
Stumar Investigations, a private-investigations firm based in Norristown, began looking into whether stores on South Street were selling the counterfeit goods about two months ago, said Stuart Drobny, company president.
The investigation included making undercover purchases, working with companies to verify that the goods were fake, and working with the Philadelphia Police Department's Major Crimes Unit, Drobny said.
Counterfeit umbrellas, scarves, jewelry, wallets and shoes were also seized, Drobny said.