COOK COUNTY, IL – A joint investigation by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Special Operations Unit and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) resulted in the recovery of $2.1 million of counterfeit luxury items and charges against a Bellwood woman, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
Roynette Cavanaugh, 54, of the 1100 block of 30th Avenue, was charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office with unauthorized use of trademark, sell 500 < 2,000 items, a Class 2 felony, on April 19. More than 1,400 counterfeit items purporting to be from high-end designers such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci were found in her home earlier that day during an execution of a search warrant by Sheriff’s Police and HSI investigators.
The items included footwear, handbags, jewelry, and clothing. A brand representative reviewed the recovered items and confirmed they were fake.
Investigators also recovered evidence she was importing these items and then selling them to customers online.
Cavanaugh received an I-bond during her court appearance on April 20 and was released from custody. Her next court date is scheduled for May 31 at the Maywood Courthouse.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.
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