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Ferndale Woman Sentenced to Six Months for Trafficking Counterfeit Designer Goods
A 42-year-old Ferndale woman, Kara Suneva Allen, was sentenced to three months in prison and three months home confinement for trafficking in counterfeit goods. The sentence was handed down in U.S. District Court in Seattle by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones.
Allen pleaded guilty in October 2022 to operating a business that sold counterfeit designer goods. Her company, ‘Keepin Up With Kara’ LLC, was based in a warehouse space in Ferndale, Washington. The business website advertised 467 different counterfeit items for sale, including handbags, wallets, and jewelry from popular brands like Adidas, Burberry, and Louis Vuitton.
An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed that Allen had obtained 46 shipments of counterfeit goods from China and Hong Kong between September 2021 and March 2022. The goods included handbags, wallets, and jewelry, which were then sold online to unsuspecting customers.
The investigation also found that Allen had sold over 1,900 counterfeit items worth an estimated $185,842. Her profit from the scheme was approximately $43,430.
Allen was informed on multiple occasions that her business activities were illegal, but she continued to operate the business, even instructing an employee to use coded language to avoid detection. The sentencing judge noted that Allen’s actions were ‘a robin hood mentality in the community’ and that she was ‘helping other mothers afford luxury goods’ through her illicit activities.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
Kara Suneva Allen, also known as Kara Suneva Mitchell, was sentenced to 3 months in prison and 3 months home confinement for trafficking in counterfeit goods. The total estimated retail value of the counterfeit goods was $185,842.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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