A Florida man was arrested for allegedly selling fake Yeti tumblers at a county fair in several west suburban counties.
Robin Dana Perry, 72, faces felony charges of imitating a trademark, according to the Will County sheriff’s office.
Several people alerted authorities at the Will County Fairgrounds in rural Peotone Township about someone selling fake Yetis on Aug. 22., the sheriff’s office said. Deputies familiar with the Austin-based brand reached out to the company, who said Yeti only allows their products to be sold by approved retailers.
Yeti products are not authorized to be sold at county fairs, festivals, street vendors or flea markets, the sheriff’s office said.
Officials found several issues confirming the tumblers’ inauthenticity including different font sizes, printing color, quality and an American Patriot theme that Yeti doesn’t use, the sheriff’s office said.
An investigation found Perry lives in Florida and has operated 10 booths selling fake Yetis for the past decade, the sheriff’s office said. He buys them in large quantities from China so he can offer a lower price and has a fraudulent certificate saying he’s an authorized dealer.
Perry also told officials he made $12,000 at the Boone County Fair and sold products at fairs in DuPage, Kendall and DeKalb counties, the sheriff’s office said. He made an average of $900 in the first two days at the Will County Fair.
Officials seized more than 1,600 fake Yetis, cash, cashier’s checks. A 2014 Ford van, miscellaneous Yeti accessories and exhibition booth signage, the sheriff’s office said.
Perry posted his $25,000 bond and was released Aug. 24, the sheriff’s office said. An investigation is ongoing.
