A New Britain resident has admitted to participating in a scheme to import and sell counterfeit goods across the United States. Melissa Cruz, 37, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford, according to an announcement by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England.
Court documents and statements indicate that between 2021 and 2024, Cruz worked with others to distribute counterfeit clothing, luxury handbags and purses, as well as jewelry bearing fake trademarks. Some of these items were imported from outside the country. Authorities say Cruz used Facebook live shows to advertise and sell these products nationwide.
The operation generated more than $4 million in gross sales through electronic payment platforms such as CashApp, Paypal, and Venmo.
Between March 2022 and March 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted several international packages containing counterfeit handbags from Thailand, China, and Hong Kong addressed to Cruz’s home in New Britain. On December 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search at her residence and seized nearly 2,000 units of counterfeit merchandise.
Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully infringe a copyright. This offense carries a maximum prison sentence of one year. She is currently released on her own recognizance while awaiting sentencing scheduled for March 12.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation with support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon is prosecuting the case.
