Guilty plea in Kane fairgrounds scam

A 50-year-old from New York who is one of four accused of selling counterfeit designer purses, sunglasses and other items at the Kane County Flea Market in St. Charles earlier this year, pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor trademark violation.

Jin Y. Qu, of the 0-99 block of 110th Street, Corona, had faced up to seven years in prison for felony charges that he violated the Counterfeit Trademark Act.

In a plea agreement, Qu pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense, was fined $1,767 and sentenced to 150 days in jail.

Because he had already served 75 days and was given time off for good behavior, Qu was released Thursday.

However, Qu was in the country illegally, so Immigration and Customs Enforcement had placed a hold on him. Whether or not he will be deported was not immediately clear.

The agency generally deports people convicted of violent felonies, drug dealing, gang involvement or sexual abuse.

Judge Allen Anderson accepted the plea, which also bans Qu from returning to the fairgrounds and puts him on probation until January 2013.

St. Charles police arrested Qu and three others on May 1 on charges of selling counterfeit designer purses, jewelry, sunglasses and other items at three booths at the Kane County Flea Market.

Police said they seized 5,000 items between Qu and three others after undercover investigators representing the designer firms bought two metal silver items wrapped in blue/green bags that said “Tiffany and Co.” on the side.

Also charged are: Armila Ramos Santarromana, 47, of the 300 block of Weymouth Avenue, Elgin; Roberto Antonio Santarromana, 49, of the 400 block of Fremont Street, Elgin; and Ying Fu, 46, of the 1600 block of West 35th Street, Chicago.

The Santarromanas are due in court on July 26 and Fu is next due in court Aug. 10.

All are free on bond while their cases are pending.