Gwinnett Police Seek Man in Counterfeit Merchandise Case

Gwinnett Police are seeking a Virginia man in connection with allegedly counterfeit merchandise that was discovered in his vehicle during a traffic stop on I-85 near Suwanee. A warrant was issued Dec. 18 for the case that began last month.

On Nov. 23, officers stopped a vehicle traveling north that was spotted crossing the white lines on the interstate near Old Peachtree Road. When officers questioned the driver, Dwayne F. Giles of Bristol, Va., he informed them that he had come to Atlanta from Virginia to do shopping, according to police records. The suspect told police that he could save money by shopping in Atlanta instead of Virginia.

This made the Gwinnett officer suspicious, due to the travel cost. The officer asked the suspect to come to the police vehicle while a traffic warning citation was issued. During the process, the officer obtained verbal consent to search the vehicle, police records show.

In the trunk, police discovered 12 pocketbooks bearing such trade names as Coach, Louis Vuitton and Prada, and recognized the trademarks of counterfeit merchandise. The suspect could not produce a receipt for the items.

Also discovered in the search was perfume bearing trade names such as Sex In The City, Beyonce Heat and Kim Kardashian. Watches bearing the trade names Gino Millano and Kawalli Quartz were also found by police.

Police also found text messages on the suspect's cell phone that appeared to be orders for merchandise.

Officers then seized the items and told the suspect that if the items were determined to be counterfeit, that it could be a felony. Police then released the suspect on the traffic charge.

A warrant for suspect Giles was issued Dec. 18 in Gwinnett Magistrate Court.