Boca couple accused of selling fake designer bags, jewelry out of West Delray salon

A Boca Raton couple are accused of selling counterfeit designer bags and jewelry out of their salon west of Delray Beach, which the husband said they did to get by in difficult financial times, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s detectives received an anonymous tip on Aug. 30 about the fake items being sold out of The Salon Delray in the 1500 block of Jog Road, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Wednesday.

After an investigation where an undercover detective made several purchases and the execution of a search warrant at the salon, owners Jacqueline, 58, and John Fiorenzi, 63, each face one count of counterfeiting less than $20,000, a third-degree felony, according to court records.

In late September, a PBSO detective went to the salon and met Jacqueline Fiorenzi, who said she was the owner of the business and handed the detective a business card with her information and a business name of “The Boutique at the Salon,” John Fiorenzi’s affidavit said. The boutique was a “small hallway formed by two large displays” behind the salon’s counter.

On display were purses, jewelry and accessories with luxury brand names like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, YSL and others, the affidavit said. The detective asked for the price of one wallet marked with a Louis Vuitton logo, and Jacqueline Fiorenzi said it was $70, which the detective knew was below market price.

The undercover detective came back to the salon twice in late October, on one date buying a black Louis Vuitton wallet for $85, a yellow Chanel bracelet for $50 and a pair of Fendi glasses for $30, according to the affidavit. A few days later, the detective bought another Louis Vuitton wallet for $70.

Louis Vuitton and Chanel representatives inspected the purchased items and confirmed they were counterfeit. The wallets’ true prices from the brand were $1,500 and $490 and the Chanel bracelet cost $1,500, the affidavit said.

The Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the salon on Tuesday and also at the Fiorenzis’ home in Boca Raton. More than $400,000 worth of fake products were found at both the salon and the home, the Sheriff’s Office said in its news release, and cash was stored throughout their home.

The Sheriff’s Office seized over $150,000 in cash after the search, 13 firearms and 104 pounds of ammunition, the news release said.

While deputies were at the salon on Tuesday, John Fiorenzi said, “Is that about the bags we sell?” according to his probable cause affidavit. A black garbage bag was in the bed of his truck, which had more counterfeit purses.

Brand representatives who were at the scene confirmed they were fake. John Fiorenzi told a detective that “times were tough and corners were cut” to make ends meet, the affidavit said.

“While secured in a marked PBSO vehicle, Mr. Fiorenzi spontaneous(ly) uttered the following, ‘My wife bought a couple of bags that weren’t right, you know? The Louis Vuitton bags and it’s so freaking hard to pay her rent,” the affidavit said.

The Fiorenzis have been released from jail after posing bail, court records show. Attorney information was not available Friday night.