A renowned fashion designer has been handed an 18-month prison sentence following her admission of guilt to charges related to smuggling crocodile handbags from Colombia.
Nancy Gonzalez, a Colombian national in her 70s, was brought to the US earlier this year after her 2022 arrest for orchestrating a complex scheme that involved enlisting couriers to transport her luxury handbags on commercial flights to exclusive showrooms and fashion events in New York, all in defiance of US wildlife laws.
Known for her ‘innovative use of precious skins’, Gonzalez catered to Hollywood’s elite, counting celebrities like Salma Hayek, Kris Jenner, and the cast of Sex and the City among her clientele, all frequently seen flaunting her high-priced bags.
Assistant US Attorney Thomas Watts-Fitzgerald remarked, ‘It´s all driven by the money,’ drawing parallels between Gonzalez’s actions and those of drug traffickers. He emphasized the need to target major figures to deter such behavior, likening her to a ‘cocaine kingpin’.
Prosecutors highlighted the vast disparity between Gonzalez’s lavish lifestyle and the couriers she employed to smuggle her goods into the US. These couriers were instructed to claim the items were gifts for their family members if questioned by customs officials.
‘Her enterprise led to the creation of criminals,’ stated Watts-Fitzgerald. ‘She attempted to bend the law to suit her own agenda.’
According to testimonies from co-defendants and former employees, Gonzalez, described as a meticulous planner, would recruit up to 40 individuals before significant fashion events, tasking each with carrying four designer handbags on commercial flights.
