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Palm Beach Jewelry Store Owner Charged with Selling $2 Million in Counterfeit Goods June 11, 2024 (0 comments)

Palm Beach, FL--A Hypoluxo woman has been charged with selling counterfeit luxury goods worth approximately $2 million at two Palm Beach jewelry stores she owns.

[Image via Olivier Le Moal/istock.com]

According to a report by Palm Beach Daily News, Olena Austin, 52, was arrested Thursday after a six-month investigation by Palm Beach police. Austin owns Blesk Jewelry at 350 S. County Road and 313 Worth Ave.

The report added that she was charged with one count of selling or offering for sale counterfeit goods or services exceeding $20,000 and released on a $50,000 surety bond.

Per the report, police allege Austin sold counterfeit clothing and jewelry bearing brand names such as Chanel, Pucci, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany, Rolex, Versace, and Bottega Veneta. The investigation, "Operation Worth-Less," began in October 2023 following a tip from the FBI.

In November, an undercover detective purchased a Pucci shirt and Chanel-style earrings from Blesk Jewelry. Both items were later confirmed to be counterfeit by brand representatives.

The report noted that in May, another undercover operation revealed more counterfeit sales. Austin admitted to selling "heavily influenced" designs, including Chanel-inspired earrings and a Van Cleef-style bracelet, which were confirmed counterfeit by brand representatives.

Search warrants were executed at both Blesk locations on June 6, resulting in the seizure of over 800 counterfeit items and approximately $4,294 in cash. The report noted that the total value of the counterfeit goods was estimated at $2 million.

"This is not a victimless crime," Palm Beach Police Capt. Will Rothrock stated in the report. "Crimes such as this one make actual impacts on our legitimate local businesses and threaten to mar the hard-earned reputation of the town's retail community."

Learn more in this report by Palm Beach Daily News.