EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Highland, Illinois, woman appeared in federal court on Thursday and admitted selling counterfeit cosmetics, purses, clothing, and accessories from high-end designer brands.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois said Emily Montegna, 38, infringed on registered trademarks by importing fake goods from overseas.
Montegna admitted running a business under multiple names—Emily’s Creative Creations, Hickory Flat Farm Vinyl & Deals, Emily’s She Shed, or Hickory Hill Vinyl & Deals—in order to sell the counterfeit merchandise.
Customers were unaware they were buying counterfeit merchandise, prosecutors said. The fake merch mimicked products sold by Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Parfumes Christian Dior, Tarte, Too Faced, Deckers Outdoor, Victoria’s Secret, Kate Spade, Under Armour, Nike, and Michael Kors.
“Fake cosmetics pose significant health risks for consumers and selling counterfeit goods harm unsuspecting shoppers who believe they are getting the real product,” Acting U.S. Attorney Ali M. Summers said.
Montegna pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods. She’ll be sentenced on the morning of July 1 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. She faces up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $2 million.