Eileen Trubia, 71, the wife of a Pasco County public official, was charged in the sales of more than 200 counterfeit luxury handbags.
By EMILY VASQUEZ
Published August 5, 2005
NEW PORT RICHEY - You won't find a real Louis Vuitton handbag for sale in Pasco County stores, but deputies said that for those willing to settle for a fake, a New Port Richey woman had the goods.
Seventy-one-year-old Eileen Trubia was arrested Wednesday on a charge of selling counterfeit goods. Pasco County sheriff's deputies said they searched her home and found more than 200 bags, fake versions of pricey labels including Louis Vuitton, Coach, Channel and Fendi.
Trubia's inventory also included knockoffs of Tiffany jewelry and Rolex watches, said Cindy Sanz, special agent supervisor for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
"If the product had been authentic, it would have been over $100,000 worth," Sanz said.
The investigation into Trubia's trade began last year when law enforcement agents received a tip that she was selling the counterfeited goods.
According to the warrant for Trubia's arrest:
An FDLE agent went to Trubia's residence in October posing as a customer. Trubia showed the agent at least 200 handbags, which she said were fakes. Trubia even explained how to tell the difference between them and the real thing.
The agent bought four handbags for $200 from Trubia that officials sent to representatives for Louis Vuitton and Coach, the warrant states. They determined the bags were counterfeit, and the real versions would have totaled over $1,000 retail.
Officials delayed on the arrest, Sanz said, because they thought contact with Trubia might lead them to a supplier higher up in the distribution process.
Sanz said this type of illegal trade is so widespread that she could have squads of agents making similar busts full time.
"We see them coming via New York," Sanz said. "There are a lot of people locally who will go up there and bring back carloads, truckloads, and sell them through boutiques."
Trubia sold her handbags, Sanz said, primarily through a word-of-mouth operation.
"She's not a major distributor making millions of dollars off this," Sanz said. "When you move up the line, the people that are manufacturing these overseas are making a small fortune."
Companies such as Louis Vuitton are working to fight the illegal trade and protect their intellectual property rights.
According to a written statement issued by Louis Vuitton, a department was set up within the company dedicated to fighting counterfeiting. Cooperation with law enforcement agencies leads to thousands of raids each year.
Authentic Louis Vuitton products can only be purchased at Louis Vuitton stores - either freestanding or housed within larger department stores.
The closest for Pasco County residents is in Tampa.
Trubia, the wife of a Pasco County public official, was released Wednesday afternoon without having to post bail.
Len Trubia, her husband, is a commissioner of the Pasco County Housing Authority and ran unsuccessfully for the Pasco County School Board in 2002.
Trubia's attorney, J. Larry Hart of New Port Richey, said Thursday afternoon that his client is cooperating fully in the investigation.
"Certainly this woman never committed any intentional violation of the law," Hart said.
Emily Vasquez can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6232 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6232. Her e-mail address is evasquez@sptimes.com
