Farmington police have arrested a New York woman who is accused of buying expensive Louis Vuitton purses with counterfeit cash and authorities believe this case is connected to a scheme throughout the northeast.
Rosemael Danelyne Paul, 19, is suspected of buying two purses at the Louis Vuitton Store in the Westfarms Mall for almost $2,000 on Nov. 3, according to police. It was not until after the transaction was complete that the store realized that the 19 $100 bills used to buy the purses were fake.
As police investigated, they discovered that several Louis Vuitton Stores in the northeast had been targeted in a similar counterfeit scam.
According to authorities, several people had been returning bags bought with counterfeit money to other stores and getting cash for them.
To help crack the case, police from several departments and Louis Vuitton Loss Prevention staff started working together.
On Saturday, Paul went back to the Louis Vuitton store at Westfarms Mall and tried to exchange two handbags purchased with counterfeit money at a Louis Vuitton Store in King of Prussia mall in Pennsylvania, police said.
However, staff members recognized her from flyers that had been handed out and they suspected she was the same person who had used counterfeit cash there days before, police said.
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Paul was arrested her in connection with the incident on Saturday and charged with fourth-degree larceny. Police said they are also seeking an arrest warrant for the Nov. 3 case at Louis Vuitton store.
Paul is being held on bond and is due in court on Nov. 25.
