STORM LAKE, IA — Two men, Luis Jimenez Barajas, 28, of Laurens, and 22-year-old Sebastian Alexander Gutierrez of Newell, face felony theft charges after allegedly selling fake Rolex watches on Facebook Marketplace.
The case began on Sept. 24 when a local resident reported trading a 2010 Camaro for a Rolex watch, only to discover it was counterfeit. Investigators connected this incident to a similar report earlier in September, where a buyer paid $9,000 for another fake Rolex.
A joint investigation by the Storm Lake Police Department and Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office led to the suspects. On Wednesday, officers stopped a vehicle at College Street and West Lakeshore Drive in Storm Lake, taking both men into custody.
Search warrants were executed in Buena Vista, Sac, and Pocahontas Counties, resulting in the seizure of evidence linked to the counterfeit watch sales.
Barajas and Gutierrez have been charged with second-degree theft, with further charges possible.
Authorities urge anyone who believes they have been targeted by similar scams to contact their local law enforcement agency.
