In downtown Miami, father and son Giovanni Tummolillo Sr., 72, and Giovanni Tummolillo Jr., 40, have been charged with selling counterfeit luxury goods from their store, Leather Goods LLC, in the Ingraham Building.
The Tummolillos' store at 25 SE Second Ave., which featured high-end brands like Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Prada, was found to be selling counterfeit items. Detectives and Homeland Security Investigations revealed that the $3 million worth of luxury goods were actually fake, according to Local 10.
A significant tip-off from an unnamed source led to a series of controlled buys using an undercover informant, where goods were purchased; these transactions spanned from March to July and culminated in the seizure of merchandise and manufacturing equipment utilized in the alleged creation of the counterfeit items, according to NBC Miami.
Miami authorities arrested Giovanni Tummolillo Jr. on August 23, and his father, Giovanni Tummolillo Sr., was detained at Miami International Airport on Tuesday. Police have not revealed if Tummolillo Sr. was boarding a flight or his destination. Both face felony charges for selling counterfeit goods. The son posted bond and was released, while the father remains in custody at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with a $12,500 bond. Police noted, "To any ordinary and prudent person, these copies looked identical to any of the real products," on a report by Local 10.
Authorities uncovered the counterfeit luxury goods sold to unsuspecting customers and sent a warning to other similar operations.
