Nearly 100K in counterfeit items seized at flea market
Officials seized nearly $100,000 worth of counterfeit CDs, DVDs and clothing items at a flea market in Fort Myers Saturday.
Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the parking lot of the 7-11 at the corner of Ballard Road and Ortiz Avenue to meet with investigators from the Recording Industry Association of America
The 9:27 a.m. meeting was held in reference to allegations that counterfeit CD’s were being sold by vendors at the Ortiz Flea Market.
Deputies were told RIAA investigators were conducting a separate investigation at the flea market and discovered two booths selling pirated music. Due to the nature of the situation, Criminal Investigation Division detectives assigned to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Echo (Central) District assumed the investigation. Detectives went to the booths in question to investigate the contents being sold.
After conducting a walkthrough of the area, detectives detained the vendors and seized more than 2,000 counterfeit CD’s. In addition, detectives also discovered 2,000 counterfeit DVD’s and more than 500 articles of counterfeit clothing. In total, the value of the seized counterfeit items amount to nearly $100,000 officials said.
The incident remains under investigation.
The following individuals have been arrested:
* Maria Valadez Mendoza, 38, of 3126 NE 14th Court, Cape Coral – Charged with one (1) count of unlawful sales of over 100 pieces of counterfeit music titles
*Margarito Gil Martinez, 28, of 4024 W. Sunflower Road, Labelle – Charged with one (1) count of unlawful sales of over 1000 pieces of counterfeit music / movie titles
* Bruno Navarro Davila, 21, of 4024 W. Sunflower Road, Labelle – Charged with one (1) count of unlawful sales of over 1000 pieces of counterfeit music / movie titles
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office