The United States Attorney’s Office has asked Judge Victor Marreno to impose a harsh sentence, possibly 12 to 18 months in prison, on Roshanda Rolle after she told authorities there that, “I buy fake bags, I am not running from that”.
She also told authorities that she knew what she was doing was illegal.
Rolloe was arrested along with eight other vendors on September 18 after a long investigation into their trafficking of counterfeit goods.
Ms Rolle told U.S. authorities that she was a self employed retailer at a straw market in the Bahamas who sold counterfeit bags.
She admitted that the sole reason for her frequent trips to New York was to purchase counterfeit designer items to sell at her stall.
September’s trip was one of more than 15 trips Ms Rolle had taken since March, 2009 to buy counterfeit goods, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Perhaps fooloishly, Ms Rolle waived her right to have an attorney present when she made her statement after her arrest.
It was reported in the Tribune newspaper that U.S. prosecutors are pushing for the heavier sentence, “based on the history and characteristics of the defendant, to reflect the seriousness of the offence and to deter criminal conduct, according to documents filed with the US Department of Justice.”
On her previous trips to New York, customs agents in the United States had secretly inspected her bags and inventoried and photographed the counterfeit goods she had purchased. But they allowed Ms Rolle to leave the country in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Rolle is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Five of the other vendors arrested with Rolle have already pleaded guilty and were sentenced to time served, placed on probation and released.
Three other vendors are still awaiting their fate.
