Lake George Man Arrested for Trying to Sell Counterfeit Labubu at Wilton Mall

A Lake George man was arrested in Wilton after he tried to sell counterfeit Labubu at the Casual Girl store in Wilton Mall. 

Steven Solimanto, 75, was arrested on the afternoon of Sept. 21 after the Saratoga Sherriff’s Department received a complaint of counterfeiting from the store. 

Solimanto allegedly tried to sell over $1000 worth of the counterfeit plush dolls. He was charged with 2nd degree trademark counterfeiting and was released on an appearance ticket. 

The dolls Solimanto is accused of counterfeiting are made by Chinese company Pop Mart and were designed by Hong Kong born, Dutch raised, designer Kasing Lung. Based on European folklore, the dolls were first designed in 2015 and later licensed to Pop Mart in 2019, according to design media firm The Art Gorgeous. In 2025 alone, the line of dolls and other merchandise has brought in over $500 million for the company, according to an earnings report from June. 

While the dolls’ unique appearance may seem like the biggest threat, the prominence of fake dolls and keychains — referred to by some as “Lafufu” — led to an urgent warning from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in August. 

“These fakes, sold both as plush figures and plush keychains, are small enough for a child to fit the doll in their mouth and block their airway,” the warning said. “CPSC has also received reports of fake Labubu dolls that break apart easily, releasing small pieces that can become choking hazards.” 

In light of the fakes, the CPSC recommends consumers to the following to ensure they’re purchasing authentic dolls. 

• Beware of bargains — deep discounts can signal fake products.

• Authentic Pop Mart Labubu dolls feature a holographic Pop Mart sticker, a scannable QR code linking to the official Pop Mart site, and (on newer editions) a subtle UV stamp on one foot.

• Fakes often have overly bright colors or the wrong number of teeth (authentic dolls have nine).

• Know your seller — purchase only from trusted stores or online marketplaces.

• Check safety labeling — for toys with small parts, look for choking hazard warnings and independent safety certification marks.