Corrections officer charged with selling knockoff shoes, purses

ROANOKE RAPIDS — An April 21 search warrant, which landed a Roanoke Rapids man in federal custody on cocaine related charges, has now led to the arrest of his wife for allegedly selling counterfeit shoes and purses from her home.

Lt. Jay Burch of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said during the April raid, narcotics agents seized 94 pairs of fake Nike shoes, three pairs of counterfeit Bape shoes, a pair of counterfeit Timberland boots, 13 knockoff Coach bags and two phony Dolce & Gabbana handbags.

Tongia Northington Lynch, 32, who is a corrections officer in Virginia, allegedly ordered the items from New York, having them shipped to Roanoke Rapids where she sold them from her home, Burch said.

It is not clear how much money she made from the sales, but Burch said the items seized had a street value of $13,560, which equals the amount of money retailers selling the legitimate items would lose.

Lynch’s arrest, along with the arrest of her husband, Corey, on federal drug charges, stem from an investigation that began in March, 2007, Burch said yesterday.

Corey Lynch is currently in federal custody awaiting trial for allegedly selling large amounts of cocaine from the residence.

Further investigation following his arrest led to his wife being charged with felony conspiracy and felony criminal use of counterfeit trademarks.

Agent T.A. Harris arrested Lynch at a residence in Roanoke Rapids. She was released on $5,000 bond and has a July 5 court date. Burch said the arrests were the result of citizen complaints of large amounts of drugs and counterfeit items being sold.