Photos of a multi-million dollar seizure of allegedly counterfeit designer goods being sold out of a downtown storefront were released by Miami police on Thursday.
The store’s father and son were taken into custody as a consequence of an undercover operation.
Giovanni Tummolillo Sr., 72, of North Bay Village, was taken into custody by the authorities on Tuesday at Miami International Airport. On August 23, Giovanni Tummolillo Jr., 40, of El Portal, was taken into custody by the police.
The Italian national Tummolillo Sr. and his son are being prosecuted on five felonies related to selling counterfeit goods.
Their company, Leather Goods LLC, which is housed in the historic Ingraham Building at 25 SE Second Ave., was the subject of an investigation that started in March.
“One particular individual” inside the group gave information that counterfeit merchandise was being sold at the business,” according to the police.
Authorities claimed to have carried out controlled purchases of fake designer goods, handbags, and fancy jewelry from the Tummolillos using an undercover informant.
Police stated that the products being sold “seemed to be associated with well-known luxury brands, including, to name a few, Prada, YSL, Christian Dior, Balenciaga, Tiffany, and Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fendi, Hermes, Gucci, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels.” “These copies looked just like any real product to any reasonable and observant person.”
Authorities said that on August 23, they carried out a search warrant at the company and took the $3 million worth of goods.
“During the recovery, manufacturing equipment and merchandise were discovered and identified by (a) trademark representative, who stated that those items are used to make counterfeit merchandise,” police stated.
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The elder Tumolillo lived in a luxurious condominium building in North Bay Village called The Lexi, located at 7901 Hispanola Ave., and on the same day, authorities executed a search order at his apartment. Police stated he wasn’t present at the time.
Tummolillo Jr. would be taken into custody by Miami police in the Omni section of the city, at Northeast First Avenue and 16th Street.
Later on Tuesday, they would capture his father at MIA. The purpose of Tummolillo Sr.’s attempted flight and its destination were not disclosed by the police.
