2 ARRESTED FOR COUNTERFEIT
UPC LABELS
Monday, April 6, 2009 — Two Alsip residents have been arrested by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Special Operations Unit for placing fake UPC stickers on merchandise and then re-selling the items online, according to the office of Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.
Marcos Perez, 35, and April Perez, 31, both of 3600 block of West 123rd Street in Alsip, were taken into custody Friday, and charged with 2 counts each of Counterfeit Universal Price Code (UPC) Labels.
After receiving a complaint from the Target Corporation, the Perezes were observed entering several suburban Target and Wal-Mart stores, affixing the fake UPC labels to merchandise and then purchasing said items at a price much lower than listed retail price. They would then re-sell the items on e-bay.
For example, an item may have had a retail price of $199.97. Using the fake UPC sticker, the Perezes would pay only $35.36. They would then re-sell the same item on e-bay for over $100. The Perezes have sold the items on e-bay for more than $65,000.
Items the Perezes would purchase and re-sell include baby monitors, breast pumps and electric razors.
Bond was set at $10,000 for Marcos Perez at a bond hearing on Monday, April 6, while April Perez received an “I” or personal recognizance bond.
Their next court date is scheduled for May 1, 2009.