Spotsy Sheriffs Bust Counterfeiters

Spotsylvania Sheriffs arrested four people after a routine traffic stop turned up a numerous items of counterfeit jewelry. 

On July 8, a BMW driven by 49-year-old Atlanta, Ga. resident Derek Aldrich was pulled over for broken tail light by Spotsylvania Sheriff's deputies in the 5300 block of Jefferson Davis Highway. 

During the traffic stop, Aldrich agreed to let deputies search his vehicle. The search uncovered a number of stickers which bore the logos of Zales and Kay Jewelry, but the print appeared to be smudged "as though it was stamped on the box instead of pre-printed by the company," according to a press release from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office. 

Also found in the vehicle were Best Buy labels for computers and televisions as well as fake warranty cards. The car also was carrying a 46 inch flat screen TV which was plastered with Best Buy labels. Police also discovered labels for Apple devices. Four laptops were seized during the search. 

Police also discovered two guns, a .40 caliber and 9mm pistols, hidden behind the car's glove box. The .40 caliber had been stolen.

Police then searched the hotel room that Aldrich was staying at, discovering more fake labels, more fake jewelry, a diamond testing kit designed to pass fake diamonds off as real, a second flat-screen television, and ammunition for the guns.  

Police say Aldrich confessed that the jewelry was fake and that he along with three others would use the fake labels to pass the jewelry off as the real deal. Additionally, the electronics were inoperable, but Aldrich and his associates would label and bubble-wrap the items to try and sell them along with fake warranties. 

Aldrich was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen firearm, two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of counterfeit merchandise and forging a trademark. Fayatteville, N.C. resident Oscar King, Clarence Garnet of Philadelphia, Pa., and Rachel Villanueva of Kissimmee, Fla. were also swept up in the investigation and charged with possession of counterfeit merchandise and forging a trademark. All three were held under bond.