Big haul of fake Baby Phat bling

On Fri., March 2, Ninth Precinct police executed search warrants at three St. Mark’s Pl. novelty shops, where they found counterfeit Baby Phat jewelry being sold, and arrested seven individuals.

According to Deputy Inspector Dennis De Quatro, the precinct’s commanding officer, the officers had gone with the intention of looking for weapons. In the beginning of February, Fifth Precinct officers — based on an informant’s tip — had found metal knuckles (commonly referred to as “brass knuckles”) being sold in St. Mark’s stores. So the Ninth Precinct was following up by doing an audit of the stores, looking for weapons.

They didn’t find any weapons but did find the counterfeit jewelry being sold at three stores: First Rich Gift Shop, at 1 St. Mark’s Pl.; Village Dream, at 3 St. Mark’s Pl.; and Village X, at 36 St. Mark’s Pl. The shops also sell hats, wigs, sunglasses and T-shirts with slogans like “Take Me Drunk I’m Home.” They also do body piercing.

Arrests were made at the three locations, including owners, managers and one salesperson, who were all handcuffed and taken for arraignment. Their penalties will depend, in part, on history of previous charges, De Quatro said.

Lincoln Anderson