Bogus Rolex Sales At Philly Jeweler Land Delco Man Prison Time

UPPER DARBY, PA — A Delaware County man who ran a jewelry business in Philadelphia has been hit with prison time after he was selling fake Rolex watches, federal authorities said.

United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said Dimitre Hadjiev, 41, of Upper Darby, was convicted at trial of charges including trafficking in counterfeit goods and financial fraud offenses related to his sale of counterfeit luxury wristwatches.

In September 2019, Hadjiev was charged with a number of crimes stemming from his scheme to sell counterfeit Rolex watches and watches with counterfeit Rolex parts.

Evidence presented at trial showed that, since at least 2014, Hadjiev operated a jewelry store on the 300 block of South Street in Philadelphia.

There, he sold and customized watches and other jewelry.

An investigation by the IRS and FBI revealed that Hadjiev was knowingly buying and selling counterfeit Rolex watches and customizing Rolex watches with counterfeit Rolex parts, authorities said.

Also, Hadjiev's bank records showed he structured deposits from his store sales to avoid activating his banks' reporting requirements and failed to make required reports for cash sales of more than $10,000, according to authorities.

In total, the amount of money involved in Hadjiev's illegal scheme is more than $750,000, authorities said.

"The defendant trafficked in counterfeit merchandise and structured his deposits to conceal the cash flowing into his jewelry business," Romero said. "This Office and its law enforcement partners are committed to protecting consumers from unknowingly purchasing phony merchandise, and to holding defendants accountable for their greed."