Lafayette Clothing Store Owner Pleads Guilty To Selling Fake Merchandise

An owner of a downtown Lafayette apparel and merchandise store pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit items labeled as several popular designer brands.

According to U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley, 32-year-old Tawfic Ahmed Saleh pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking counterfeit goods before U.S. District Judge Richard Haik.

According to the guilty plea, law enforcement agents searched AA Discount Plus LLC doing business as “Urban Buzz,” a clothing and variety store in Lafayette on Nov. 18, 2014. The Urban Buzz Facebook page list the store's address as 218 Jefferson Blvd.

During the search, agents found and seized numerous suspected counterfeit items. The counterfeit items that were confiscated are listed below.

• 258 articles of clothing and 20 watches labeled “Ralph Lauren Polo”
• 42 phone cases labeled “Otterbox”
• 25 women’s purses four watches and 25 wallets labeled “Michael Kors”
• 45 watches labeled “Casio”
• 15 belts labeled “Guicci”
• 8 belts labeled “Louis Vuitton”

Saleh was later questioned and admitted to selling counterfeit items. Saleh operated the business from 2005 to 2007 and reopened it in 2009.

Saleh faces up to 10 years in prison, three years supervised release and a $2 million fine. A sentencing date was not set.