The first arrest came Saturday afternoon, when police patrolling the festival were tipped off by a rival merchant that Vernon Wellman, 56, of Somerset, N.J., was pushing counterfeit Prada, Coach, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabanna bags, officials said.

"It was brought to the police's attention by another vendor that was selling similar items," said Riverhead Police Detective Sgt. Joseph Loggia, noting that the tipster was selling handbags that appeared to be designer bags but were not exact replicas, which is not illegal, according to Det. Loggia.

Police confiscated 504 knockoff bags from Mr. Wellman and arrested him on a second-degree trademark counterfeiting charge, officials said.

"The investigation determined that such counterfeit handbags generally sell for up to $40 each, which places the value of the merchandise seized at approximately $20,000," police said in a statement.

Mr. Wellman was later released on $750 bail.

But his predicament apparently did not deter 41-year-old Jian Chang of Brooklyn from taking up shop at the fair the next day and also allegedly selling fake bags, according to a police report.

Mr. Chang was arrested Sunday when festival organizers complained that he was selling counterfeit bags, police said.

Cops seized 235 rip-off "designer" pocketbooks -- valued at $9,000 -- from Mr. Chang, of the Gravesend neighborhood of Brooklyn, and charged him with a second-degree trademark counterfeiting charge, officials said.

Reached at home, a man who identified himself as Mr. Chang declined to speak about the charges Tuesday.

"Write whatever [the police] say," he told a reporter.

Mr. Wellman could not be reached for comment. Both men are facing a maximum of four years behind bars.

mwhite@timesreview.com

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