Owner of Venecci Boutique Sentenced

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls man charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods was sentenced on December 4, 2012, by US District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol. Senad Sacipovic, age 52, was sentenced to 3 years on probation and ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $3,000.

Sacipovic was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 8, 2012. Sacipovic owned and operated a retail store known as Venecci Boutique located at the Bridges 57th Street shopping center, in Sioux Falls. Based on a tip from the public, law enforcement agents with the Department of Homeland Security verified the presence of counterfeit merchandise for sale. A search warrant led to the seizure of thousands of dollars worth of fake designer brand clothing, purses, and other women’s apparel. Sacipovic’s business was closed in October 2011, and all of the counterfeit merchandise has been forfeited to the government. He pled guilty to the charges of trafficking in counterfeit goods on September 20, 2012.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.