BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton man is facing counterfeit charges following his arrest by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
(If you are reading this in a news app, click here to access the full report, with documents and images, on BocaNewsNow.com).
According to PBSO Detectives, Ernane Franco was selling counterfeit Rolex watches on Craigslist. The listings were seen by a private investigator.
From the police report written by the PBSO Detective who works undercover so his name is not released: “I was contacted by a private investigator, Eric Berger. Berger is an investigator that specializes in intellectual property, represents various brand names, and has been trained by the brands in the identification of counterfeit merchandise. Investigator Berger has over ten years of experience in this field. Investigator Berger informed me that a seller on “Craigslist.com” was offering counterfeit Rolex watches for sale. The Craigslist advertisement for the counterfeit Rolex’s was posed with the seller’s phone number listed as 561-929-3667 and the advertiser listed the counterfeit Rolex watches for sale in the unincorporated Boca Raton area.”
The narrative continues: “Contact was made with the seller via text message. The seller agreed to meet at the McDonalds parking lot located at 23073 Sandalfoot Plaza. The seller agreed to meet in the parking lot within the time frame of 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on February 11, 2021. In the text messages, the seller agreed to sell five “brand new” Rolex watches for the price of $400 in U.S. Currency.”
“I arrived at the McDonalds and made contact with the defendant shortly thereafter. On scene, the defendant showed me the watches and again agreed to the price of $400 for the five watches. The take down signal was given and the defendant was taken into custody by members of the Street Team without incident.”
Investigator Berger reviewed the fake watches, according to the affidavit of probable cause, and determined their street value would be $149,700. Not $400.
Franco, of the 23000 block of Carolwood Lane in Boca Raton, is now charged with counterfeiting — “sell, offer counterfeited (goods) valued at $20k or more.” Bond was set at $5,000, which he posted.
Read the complete police report, below. If you are reading in a news app and the PDF does not appear, click here.
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