Marshals hold woman who had suspected counterfeit goods

About 500 suspected counterfeit items were seized by Howland police.

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — A Howland woman taken into custody last week during an investigation into possible counterfeit merchandise in her home has been transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Possible charges against her husband are pending further investigation by Howland police.

Township police took into custody Qiao Ling Liu, of 543 Laurelwood Drive S.E., on Aug. 28 after police raided the house and found suspected counterfeit items in the garage and house.

She was taken to the Trumbull County Jail because of a warrant for her arrest issued by the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs, police said. Agents with the U.S. Marshals Service removed her from the jail Wednesday, according to jail records.

An investigator with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs said he was aware the woman had been taken from the jail but would not say where she was being taken.

Howland Police Detective Nick Roberts said it is not known whether there is any connection between the Howland merchandise and an Aug. 21 raid on a McKinley Heights warehouse that uncovered millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit merchandise.

The immigrations and customs agent said the agency has been providing assistance to Niles and Weathersfield Township authorities on the McKinley Heights investigation.

Howland police were acting on a tip when they went to the home on Laurelwood, Roberts said.

They went to the door to talk to Liu, and she directed them to enter the house through a garage door because of a deadbolt on the front door that she could not unlock, Roberts said.

On the way through the garage, officers noticed boxes with purses sticking out of them and called Chris Becker, an assistant county prosecutor, and secured a search warrant.

In all, officers seized about 500 items, mostly purses, wallets and sunglasses marked with the trademarks of Coach, Gucci and Chanel. They were found in the garage and in the house, Roberts said.

When her husband, Kong Hua Ni, arrived later, he told police he was selling the items at an unidentified flea market, Roberts said.

Roberts said a person representing Coach, Gucci and Chanel will be inspecting the items secured to determine whether they are counterfeit. The results will help determine whether any charges will be filed against Liu and Ni, Roberts added.