Roslyn Heights couple charged with importing, selling counterfeit luxury goods

A Roslyn Heights couple is accused of importing from China fake luxury goods bearing designer labels such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Coach, authorities said.

Le Fu Chen, 40, and his wife, Hai Fan Huang, 36, were arraigned in federal court in Manhattan Thursday after federal agents executed search warrants at their home and storage facilities linked to the couple, officials said.

The alleged scheme, officials said, involved over 130,000 items worth millions of dollars that were to be sold in Manhattan.

"This couple allegedly conspired to profit from the sale of knockoffs," said Glenn Sorge, acting special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's Homeland Security investigations. "Fake products that infringe on business owners' intellectual property rights cost jobs and hurt the U.S. economy."

Attorneys for the couple, who appeared before U.S. Magistrate Kevin Nathaniel Fox, could not be reached for comment.

Chen and Huang are each charged with conspiracy and trafficking in counterfeit goods, authorities said. They face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The fake items included handbags, watches and sunglasses, authorities said.