MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. — Investigators have exposed a fraudulent business for selling hundreds of fake ‘luxury’ items out of Hamilton County and Monroe County, Tennessee.
In late October-early November 2025, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says their Criminal Investigation Division was contacted by a private company that is contracted by numerous high-end clothing and accessory brands to investigate fraudulent sales of counterfeit merchandise.
These contracted investigators work on behalf of luxury companies such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Coach, and others to identify individuals, websites, and operations involved in the sale of fake items designed to resemble legitimate products.
The investigation company had been tracking a case since November 2023 involving an online retailer known as “The Luxe Closet,” which was advertising and selling luxury-branded purses, accessories, clothing, and similar items.
During their ongoing investigation, the company discovered that The Luxe Closet had moved its distribution operations to Madisonville, Tennessee from Hamilton, Tennessee within the last year.
After confirming the location, the company contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and requested their assistance.
To verify the suspected fraud, MCSO investigators made multiple online purchases and retrieved items directly from the Madisonville distribution center. These items were confirmed to be fake.
Photo via the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Working jointly with the Madisonville Police Department and the Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, investigators executed a search warrant at the distribution center in Madisonville and at the owner’s residence in Hamilton County.
Inside the distribution center, detectives located hundreds of counterfeit handbags, wallets, clothing items, jewelry, watches, shoes, and other accessories.
Had the 3,000 plus items been authentic, the sheriff’s office says their total value would have been approximately $1.2 million.
Photo via{ }the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
All counterfeit merchandise was seized, along with a portable building used to store the inventory and a vehicle used for deliveries and transport/relocate merchandise from Hamilton County to Madisonville to be sold.
Investigators also recovered fake leather spray that MCSO says the operation used to make counterfeit items smell and appear more realistic before being shipped to customers.
Evidence suggests the counterfeit items originated from outside the United States, and Monroe County CID continues to investigate the international source of the products.
Charges are pending as the investigation continues.
