Several Blueberry Festival vendors busted for selling counterfeit merchandise Save Email Print
Posted: 3:57 PM Sep 2, 2008
 Last Updated: 4:19 PM Sep 2, 2008
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Several Blueberry Festival vendors have been busted for selling counterfeit merchandise.

Indiana State Police say five booths at this weekend's Marshall County festival were selling fake designer labels such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel.

Hundreds of purses, belts, sunglasses, and other items were confiscated.

Authentic labels are typically sold in department stores and high-end retail outlets, and for a lot more money.

Seven people were arrested, including 30-year-old Myla Sutter of South Bend.

All face preliminary forgery charges.
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Posted by: A on Sep 4, 2008 at 03:38 PM
I heard Jen bought a fake wristlet for ten bucks!
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 at 03:35 PM
M in Granger! You are hysterical! LMAO!
Posted by: Megan Location: Elkhart on Sep 4, 2008 at 01:01 PM
"M from Granger"- I find it incredibly shallow that you would not only spend "thousands" on your designer bags, but brag about it publicly and then belittle those who wouldn't spend that money on labels. Being able to afford it isn't the issue- I don't care how much money I have, I wouldn't spend it on designer labels to impress strangers- I spend money to feed the hungry and care for the needy. The money we have is not ours, it's God's and He knows how we use the resources we're blessed with and we'll all have to account for that someday. I hope you do some self-examination and discover how shallow and superficial you appear to every compassionate individual who would rather save someone's life than indulge in useless garbage just because you're a mindless follower of Vogue magazine.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I can still get them...,,,,
Posted by: Well on Sep 4, 2008 at 11:09 AM
To M in Granger: When you get knocked off your high horse and your living in the poor house we will be the ones laughing. I hate to say it but ppl like you are the ones that I set and await for the fall. I feel for ppl that don't have enough to make ends meet. I don't gloat about what I can afford. One day when your in their shoes, purchasing knock offs I hope you remember your snide comments. Take some of your money and buy a personality, your about as fake as they come and no 2000.00 purse can help you out.
Posted by: Glenn Location: Nappanee on Sep 4, 2008 at 10:04 AM
To M in Granger: trust me - we all laugh just as hard at the people who "spend thousands" for a purse as we do at the people that buy a purse at a bumpkinfest. Get over yourself.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 3, 2008 at 10:22 PM
seems the truth really never makes it to the people i submitted the truth the real truth and it wasnt even given a look but yet they will let you all rant and rave about stupid things that mean nothing at all compared to the real truth google where do the conterfeit purses come from and who does it support .
Posted by: kr Location: elkhart on Sep 3, 2008 at 03:29 PM
what? they aren't real? OMG I paid $20 for a knock off??
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 3, 2008 at 02:30 PM
It's Myla Sattar, not Sutter
Posted by: Anonymous Location: SB on Sep 3, 2008 at 01:52 PM
Purse partys selling knockoffs are everywhere. People buying them know they are knock offs. They pay $35-$65 when real one are $300 The people that buy knockoffs would never pay the price for real ones so the real companies are not losing a thing. Truth be told, the knockoffs don't hold up as well as a cheap Walmart purse for $15.
Posted by: South Bend Resident Location: SB on Sep 3, 2008 at 12:09 PM
What's the problem with the knock-offs. For us people that can't afford the real thing, those are great! And if you find a purse for only $20 any normal person would know that it's fake. I don't see what the problem is with selling look-a-likes. What about all the name brand foods and then the generic brands. They are the same, just different names just like the purses, watches or whatever.
Posted by: Farmer Frank Location: Rural Marshall County on Sep 3, 2008 at 10:18 AM
I think they missed a few hundred vendors. After walking the gauntlet of mass humanity, it was time for something to drink...who would have thought that for a mere $5 you could get a liter of soda?????? And for another $6 you could get a hamburger or a brat....Seems like there is a great opportunity there to cut some prices and really mop up on the competition. Hopefully WALMART will seize the opportunity next year and have a food booth at the Blueberry festival. Who knows, maybe the next big change will be the charging of admittance to attend the festival........Its coming, just give it a few years
Posted by: ND Fan Location: ND on Sep 3, 2008 at 10:07 AM
C'mon people... how were they to know they were fakes? Doesn't ALL merchandise get delivered in black trash bags and beat up old boxes?! NO?!!
Posted by: Fakes on Sep 3, 2008 at 09:59 AM
It is not whether they thought they were authenic or not, if you tried to come in the country with those and you were caught at customs, you would be going ot jail. Selling them is just as much of a crime and you are stealing profits from the high-end retailer and ruining their brand image.
Posted by: SB Location: E-town on Sep 3, 2008 at 09:09 AM
Gee, like this is a new thing? Knock offs are everywhere! I get invited to at least 4-5 "purse parties" every year & I know those aren't real either. DUH!
Posted by: . Location: . on Sep 3, 2008 at 08:48 AM
anybody been to shippshewana latley?
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 3, 2008 at 08:24 AM
what you dont know is these crooks were using a credit card scanner that was stealing your information. Job well done Indiana State Police!!!
Posted by: BigRedEvil Location: Death Valley on Sep 3, 2008 at 07:36 AM
Geez, there'd be an empty field in Shipshie if the ISP ever went to the "flea market" there. They'd be hauling crap outta there by truckload .....
Posted by: anon on Sep 3, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Everybody knows they are knock offs, it's not like women who buy them think they are genuine. Maybe if the originals didn't sell for $300 then the fakes wouldn't be so popular. There are just as many knock offs out there as there are real ones & I guarantee you can't tell the difference in a lot of them; some you can, a lot you can't. People who like to change purses frequently love the knock offs because for the same $300 you can get 3 or 4 to interchange; that's why knock offs are sold in home parties & all over the country. All the police did here was deprive a lot of women who were trying to find the booths they busted. The booths were there last year too, right in the main walkway, so it's not like the Blueberry committee didn't know they were knock offs. Nice of them to take the booth rental & THEN bust them. Why didn't they just deny the request for booth rental in the first place? Sounds like they're doing a little scamming themselves if you ask me.
Posted by: L Location: Bend on Sep 3, 2008 at 06:39 AM
Crime doesn't pay.
Posted by: charlotte Location: cape coral, fl on Sep 3, 2008 at 06:34 AM
Steve, you think the chinese stuff is good? It's junk. Look at all the lead point toys and cheaply made items. Unfortunately it almost comes from China. What about American made? I'm glad the crooks got caught; it's about time.
Posted by: anon on Sep 2, 2008 at 11:17 PM
what makes people think they can buy an authentic $200 handbag at a country, redneck festival?? everything there is pure junk! ...even the fireworks were terrible this year. total bummer, not worth the drive! sorry to hurt your feelings Blueberry Fest Committee!!
Posted by: sherri Location: MC on Sep 2, 2008 at 11:08 PM
the people selling these items are no better then the ones buying the purses . the ones buying need to be educated more so they wont buy them since those items being sold are typically linked to funding terrorist groups such as Hazbulla as well as knowing the little shirts on the street corners that say Hello kitty its all linked just get the Public educated and knock off this crap . seems to me someone dont want to educate us about this because its easier for the goverment to keep and eye on them and slap the hands of a few to let the terroist know there still watching them .
Posted by: ron on Sep 2, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Thats like going to a carnival,and expecting quality prizes.....LMAO
Posted by: Mark Location: Elkhart on Sep 2, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Here's the breakdown people:If you want something that looks nice and have the logo on it, but you dont want to spend too much money, go to these cheapos. Blueberrry fest let them in for one reason. MONEY. Greedy greedy people. The comittee already knew what they were going to do. The FBI had a SEMI ready to haul away all the illegal stuff.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 2, 2008 at 09:49 PM
a blueberry can kill me.
Posted by: M Location: Granger on Sep 2, 2008 at 09:14 PM
LOL this is great! I spend thousands on my Chanel and Gucci bags..and I hate it when someone carries a fake bag and tried to pull it off like it is real! I am so glad they caught these people and I hope they continue to! If you don't have the money for Gucci, to bad! Carry a coach bag then! It is illegal to copy a design! Shame Shame Shame to the wanna bes! Those Real Chanel are priced high for a reason!! They are for people that can afford them. Seriously, I am so thrilled that these people were caught! Stop supporting them!
Posted by: eric Location: south bend on Sep 2, 2008 at 09:02 PM
so the Tiffany watch i bought my wife is a fake?!?!?!?! i paid $10 for it! dang...out $10 lol....who would be dumb enough to think the prada they are buying at a midwestern festival is genuine????
Posted by: steve Location: plymouth on Sep 2, 2008 at 08:24 PM
this has been going on for years and you do something now.everybody knows all the good stuff is made in china now a days.all the cops and the blueberry committee did was to take food out of some hard working person mouth and make there kids starve.
Posted by: jw Location: Marshall County on Sep 2, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Hm, imagine that. Probably all were foreigners too. Good job PPD!!! Lock em up and throw away the key!
Posted by: R Location: South Bend on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Your an idiot if you purchase a handbad from a festival vendor. It's a given they are counterfeit! I will only purchase my handbags from the actual stores or reputable department stores only. The fakes are junk anyway!
Posted by: sb on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:50 PM
ya think the one who rents them the space to sell the merchandise would knpw ahead of time if it was real or didnt care?just so they rented the space. BECAUSE ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY,,,,RIGHT!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: sb on Sep 2, 2008 at 05:40 PM
GREAT JOB,ISP.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 2, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Ok and this is new how? There's a place on grape rd. that sells handbags (bad fakes at that) and they actually have a store. Guess the ISP have a lot of time on their hands.
Posted by: Harry Location: South Bend on Sep 2, 2008 at 04:09 PM
What moron would actually believe that those products mentioned in this article were authentic and being sold at a country festival? Give me a break!!!
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