Ozark Woman Pleads Guilty to Selling Counterfeit Luis Vuitton Bracelets Online

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Ozark, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to selling counterfeit Louis Vuitton bracelets and other items online.

Carissa L. Bedford, 46, waived her right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to a federal information that charges her with trafficking in counterfeit goods.

Bedford operated JOVEE, LLC, an online wholesale business that sold to boutique stores and which operated out of Bedford’s residence.

By pleading guilty today, Bedford admitted she sold various counterfeit Louis Vuitton bracelets, hair ties, and other products through JOVEE from April to December 2022. The counterfeit consumer goods and apparel were typically manufactured in Hong Kong and China and shipped to the United States for distribution. Numerous shipments were delivered from Hong Kong or China to Bedford and another individual who operated JOVEE, who is not identified in court documents, from May 4 to Nov. 14, 2022.

Bedford specifically admitted to ordering 200 Louis Vuitton-branded, counterfeit bracelets from Hong Kong in April 2022. She also admitted to selling three Louis Vuitton-branded, counterfeit hair ties to an individual working in an undercover capacity in association with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on May 26, 2022. Bedford received $70,770 in criminal proceeds from her illegal actions.

Under federal statutes, Bedford is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.