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2 Arrested In Connection To Sale Of Knockoff Merchandise

A Phoenix man has been arrested for selling counterfeit high-end brand name items at swap meets and other places. Phoenix police Detective James Holmes says 40-year-old Rafael Castro and a woman identified as a person of interest were taken into custody after 921 knockoff items were seized following a five-month-long investigation.

“The money raised form these counterfeit items are leading to money laundering and may even be related to illegal drugs,” Holmes said.

He says the items including brand names like Gucci, Coach and Nike were also being sold at a discount store. He says things that sell at retail for $300-$400 were being sold for $50.  Holmes says the costs will trickle down to consumers in the form of higher prices and could eventually cost jobs.