New York City woman charged in Connecticut with trafficking counterfeit watches from China

A woman from Brooklyn, New York was arrested Wednesday and charged in Bridgeport federal court with selling counterfeit luxury watches imported from China.

Si Man Lam, 43, was ordered detained following her federal court appearance. After obtaining a warrant, investigators inspected her home and seized around $900,000 in cash.

Lam’s arrest was announced Friday in a report from the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, which details a lucrative multi-year scheme.

Court documents allege that between April 2020 and July 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection gained access to more than 70 packages addressed to the Waterbury home of Izedin Kimica, who went by several aliases.

These packages contained counterfeit luxury items, including fake Rolex, Audemars and Panerai watches. If the watches were real, they would be worth more than $16 million.

Furthermore, between February 2021 and April 2022, CPB seized around 22 parcels set to be mailed to the Worcester, Massachusetts residence of Denis and Kelvis Nako. These packages contained more counterfeit luxury watches.

Among them were fake Rolex and Cartier watches. If legitimate, they would have an estimated manufacturers’ retail price of over $3 million.

Between February and June 2021, CBP intercepted seven more packages that were addressed to Lam’s home in Brooklyn.

They contained about 378 counterfeit Rolex, Cartier and other luxury watches. If they were authentic, their retail price would be a combined $6.4 million.

Prosecutors add that Kimca, Denis Nako and Klevis Nako ran various websites and social media pages through which they promoted and sold the fake luxury watches that were imported from China.

Investigators subsequently made several undercover transactions in which they bought counterfeit Rolex watches from numerous Instagram accounts run by the criminal group for approximately $200 to $300 per watch.

The proceeds of the sales were deposited into bank accounts belonging or connected to the defendants.

Between January 2021 and April 2024, more than $800,000 was moved from these accounts to Lam.

Investigators identify her as being the one responsible for shipping the watches from China that were purchased over Instagram, including those sent to overcover law enforcement agents.

Kimca, Denis Nako and Klevis Nako were each arrested on April 3, 2024.

Prosecutors say that investigators interviewed Lam at JFK International Airport in New York City after she arrived from a trip to Hong Kong on April 5, 2024.

Lam allegedly told them she worked as a home health care aid and denied being knowledgeable about the importation and sale of counterfeit items.

However, prosecutors note that Lam continued selling and shipping counterfeit watches through this May.

An analysis of the bank accounts associated with Lam reveals that between December 2020 and October 2025, she made more than $2.7 million in payments to freight forwarding businesses.

After Lam’s arrest this week, she was charged in Bridgeport federal court with trafficking in and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years.

Prosecutors emphasize the charges against Lam are merely accusations unless and until proven true beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Kimca, Denis Nako and Kelvis Nako already pleaded guilty to similar charges, and Klevis Nako has been sentenced. Kimca and Denis Nako await sentencing.

The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Also contributing to the case have been CBP, the New Haven Police Department, the Watertown Police Department and the New York Police Department.

The prosecution is included as part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative launched by President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14159, “Protecting People Against Invasion.”

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Dalton Zbierski is a digital editor and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.

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