A Palm Beach boutique owner is facing felony charges after an undercover sting operation uncovered a scheme involving counterfeit luxury handbags. Arlene Bonner, 64, owner of Couture & More, was arrested for selling fake Chanel bags, according to CBS12.
According to the Palm Beach Daily News, the operation, called “Operation Botox & Bags,” followed a month-long investigation by the Palm Beach Police Department’s Special Investigations and Intelligence Unit. Detectives began the investigation after receiving a tip about counterfeit handbags being sold at the boutique at 255 Royal Poinciana Way.
On February 12, an undercover detective visited the store and found a backroom with a sign reading “Back Room Sale,” where several Chanel bags were displayed, as reported by CBS12. Bonner allegedly sold a pink Chanel bag for $635 to the detective, a bag worth an estimated $7,000 at an authorized dealer.
Palm Beach Police later confirmed the bag was counterfeit after contacting a Chanel representative. According to Palm Beach Daily News, Bonner allegedly told the undercover detective to keep the purchase secret, saying, “if you tell people the handbags are real, that is how you get into trouble.”
Bonner now faces a charge of selling counterfeit goods or services valued between $2,500 and $20,000, which is a third-degree felony, according to the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. She was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on a $5,000 bond. In addition to the pink Chanel bag, police found five more counterfeit Chanel bags, worth a total of $35,000 at authorized dealer prices.
Chanel’s legal team has confirmed that Couture & More was not authorized to sell their products. The case against Arlene Bonner highlights the legal protections surrounding luxury brands and the consequences of violating intellectual property rights.
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