Another arrest has been made for the sale of counterfeit goods in Newport.

As What’sUpNewp previously reported, Sergeant Joseph Carroll confirmed on Wednesday, August 23rd that in June the Newport Police Department received information that several businesses operating in Newport were selling high-end counterfeit goods. Based on this information, the Newport Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division conducted a two-month long investigation which resulted in seven search warrants being issued for seven businesses throughout the city this week.

Today, Jennifer Ann Solimine of Raynham, MA was the third business owner to turn herself into the Newport Police Station. Solimine, who owns two retail stores in Newport under the name of Bedazzled, was charged with 15 counts of Forgery/Counterfeiting/Alter Trademarks and was arraigned in Newport District Court and released on personal recognizance (undisclosed amount) and scheduled to appear in Newport Superior Court on December 7, 2017.

Patricia Vecchione, a Newport resident and the owner of Heaven On Earth, reported to Newport District Court on September 11th where she was arraigned on 10 counts of Forgery/Counterfeiting/Alter Trademarks.  MVecchione was released on personal recognizance ($5,000) and is scheduled to appear in Newport Superior Court on November 9, 2017.

Sandra Gaines, a Middletown resident and owner of Vintage to Vogue and Vintage to Vogue Too, turned herself into Newport Police on September 7th and was charged with 8 counts of Forgery/Counterfeiting/Alter Trademarks, according to an arrest report that was provided to What’sUpNewp by Sergeant Carroll. Gaines was arraigned in Newport District Court and released on $1,000 personal recognizance and has been scheduled to appear in Newport Superior Court on November 16, 2017.

Hundreds of suspected counterfeit goods, such as jewelry, handbags and purses were seized from seven businesses back in August. The suspected goods counterfeited are high-end brand names and federally registered trademarks to include: Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and Chanel. The retail value of the seized items totaled more than seven-hundred thousand dollars ($700,000).

Below is a list of the businesses that Newport Police Department has confirmed were served with the search warrants:

• Be Dazzled-23 America’s Cup Avenue
• Be Dazzled-225 Goddard Row
• Heaven on Earth-3 Christie’s Landing
• Chez Shell-408 Thames Street
• Heaven on Earth-431 Thames Street
• Vintage to Vogue-489 Thames Street
• Vintage to Vogue Too-489 Thames Street

According to past city council docket records, the seven stores appear to be operated by 4 different owners, with 3 owners each owning two of the served stores.

Sandra “Shana” Gaines owns Vintage to Vogue and Vintage to Vogue Too on Thames Street.
Patricia Vecchione owns Heaven on Earth on Thames Street and on Christie’s Landing.
Jennifer Solimine owns Be Dazzled on America’s Cup Avenue and on Goddard Row.
It is unclear who owns Chez Shell on Thames Street, What’sUpNewp is working to confirm this information.

This incident is still under investigation.