Crime & Safety

Couple Charged With Selling Counterfeit Handbags at Lawrenceville Street Fair

Lori M. Autorino, 44, and Gregg C. Schweikert, 43, of Hunterdon County were arrested for allegedly selling counterfeit designer handbags at the annual Lawrenceville Main Street Jubilee Sunday.

Sunday’s was a little livelier than in past years, as attendees got to witness Lawrence Township police arrest two vendors who were allegedly selling counterfeit designer handbags at the street fair.

Township police spokesman Lt. Charles Edgar today (April 30) confirmed the arrests of Lori M. Autorino, 44, and Gregg C. Schweikert, 43, of the same address in the Whitehouse station section of Readington Township in Hunterdon County.  

Each was charged with possessing and selling counterfeit goods, he said.

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Over 200 bags and other items allegedly bearing fake designer marks were seized by police as part of the investigation, he said, noting that the brands allegedly counterfeited included Coach, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Burberry.

It was shortly after 9:30 a.m. Sunday when police “received information” alleging that Autorino and Schweikert were preparing to sell fake bags at the Jubilee, which was scheduled to run from noon to 5 p.m. that day, Edgar said.

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“We conducted an investigation and determined them [the bags] to be counterfeit,” he said, noting that Detective James Smith and Officer Marc Caponi were the lead investigators.

Autorino and Schweikert were taken into custody about 2 p.m. and all the merchandise at their booth confiscated, he said.


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