Is That Gucci?

Alabama Bay Minette Sheriff's deputies in Baldwin County arrest two African nationals for allegedly plotting to sell fake clothing and knock-off designer handbags

by Pat Peterson

Published: Tue, July 21, 2009 - 3:41 pm CST

Deputies in Baldwin County stopped a van on I-65 for speeding Saturday night. What they found inside has been the talk of the sheriff's office.

"We found a bunch of purses and shoes and pants," says Major Anthony Lowery with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.

Not just a few bags of merchandise, but 50-thousand dollars worth of counterfeit clothing...knock-off items and fakes from high-end designers like Prada, Gucci and Lous Vuitton. Investigators say Bachir Diallo and and Mamadou Diallo, two African illegals, were heading from Atlanta to New Orleans to sell the counterfeit clothing in flea markets and gift shops. Both men have been charged with felony trademark infringement.

"Any type of fraud they can try and get over, they're trying to push," says Lowery. "So people need to be attentive and our deputies need to be attentive. They're ripping off the people that actually make this, Lous Vuitton, the Nike people, those are the people that are really being damaged here. Plus, the unsuspecting consumer."

Federal agents, including immigration and customs officers are now handling the case.

This is the second time in less than a month officers in Baldwin County have arrested foreign nationals they say plotted to scam or steal from the public. Only July 8th, two African nationals were arrested in Loxley. Officers believe the two men were going to attempt to steal credit card information from consumers in Mobile using high-tech computer equipment.

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cmb1 Says:

Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 9:08 am

African, mexican, Russian we have all kind of illegals in our area.

DT Says:

Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 7:01 am

Has the MPD or Sheriff check the flea markets in West Mobile or some of the hair salons, I have seen tons of these there. This is nothing new and people actually buy this junk.