Manufacturer Of Counterfeit Designer Handbags Sentenced To One Year In Federal Prison For Trafficking The Bogus Products

LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles woman was sentenced today to one year and one day in federal prison for trafficking in counterfeit handbags and wallets, including accessories bearing counterfeit marks belonging to Chanel, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Prada, and Versace.

Yeon Soon Lee, also known as Susie Lee, 55, who resides in the Koreatown District of Los Angeles, was sentenced today by United States District Judge George H. King.

Lee operated Anna Collection, a wholesale accessory distributor in the Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles. Lee attached emblems with counterfeit trademarks to generic bags and shipped them to retailers across the United States. After authorities executed a search warrant at Anna Collection in 2009 and seized more than 1,000 handbags and counterfeit emblems, Lee resumed operating her business in 2011. A second search in 2011 resulted in the seizure of additional goods and emblems. 

During today’s sentencing hearing, Judge King said Lee had committed a “large-scale,” “serious offense.” Lee was a “clear recidivist,” who had shown “repeated disrespect for the law” by continuing to traffic in counterfeit goods after previously being convicted in state court (that conviction has been expunged) and being the subject of two search warrants, the judge said.

“The public has to know that these are not merely victimless crimes,” Judge King emphasized.

The case against Lee is the product of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.