Palos Park Police Nab Fake Rolex Seller in Sting Operation

A man was arrested by police after he was caught selling counterfeit Rolex watches on Craigslist. 

On Tuesday, July 3, investigators from a firm that is contracted to prevent trademark fraud noticed a posting on Craigslist from someone in the Midlothian/Orland Park area who selling replica Rolex Submariner watches for $125, or best offer.

An authentic Rolex Submariner costs around $11,000, police said. 

The firm contacted Palos Park police for assistance in handling a sting operation that would go down in Palos Park.

An investigator, posing as a potential buyer, set up a meet with Paul Wines, 44, of the 14800 block of Central Park in Midlothian, near the Mill Creek Shopping Center on LaGrange Road, police said.

Around 6 p.m., Wines arrived on the scene and completed a transaction for the counterfeit watches with the investigator, police said.

Two police cars quickly moved in and Wines was placed under arrest. Wines has a previous record including  two forgery charges, and charges for burglary and theft. All occurred outside Illinois, police said.

Wines told police that he had purchased four watches from an online site for between $70 to $110 each. Based on the packaging, he believes they were sent from China, police said.

Police conducted a search of his residence, with Wines' permission, and found no additional watches.

The investigation is continuing and more charges are possible, police said.  

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