Stephen Mckean: Former Drip City Jewellers director before court over counterfeit luxury jewellery charges
The former director of a luxury Burleigh Heads jeweller is facing 22 charges after allegedly selling counterfeit copies of Cartier and other jewellery totalling more than $100,000 on the Gold Coast.
A Gold Coast man accused of selling counterfeit copies of Cartier and other luxury jewellery at Burleigh Heads totalling more than $100,000 is currently before the courts.
Stephen Mckean, 40, is currently before the Southport Magistrates Court facing 22 counts of possessing or exposing for sale goods with false trademarks.
Mr Mckean is the founder and former director and former shareholder of Drip City Jewellers Pty Ltd, which trades out of James St in Burleigh Heads.
The Gold Coast Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) executed a search warrant at Drip City Jewellers in December 2023 where Mr Mckean allegedly gave access to a safe that contained jewellery, gold bullion and a sum of cash.
JOCTF, which is made up of AFP and Queensland Police members, seized the jewellery after a search of the store, safe and business records could not determine the legitimacy or the origins of the jewellery.
An AFP investigation later determined a number of counterfeit jewellery pieces were allegedly presented for sale as genuine Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpells goods.
Mr McKean resigned from his directorship of Drip City Jewellers in November 2024.
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by other current or former directors.
Police allege the faux luxury pieces were listed for sale in the store with a total sale value in excess of $100,000 however an AFP valuation of the jewellery’s true value is set to be around $28,000.
Mr Mckean, who is currently on bail, was not required to appear for his latest court date at the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
A Dib and Associates law clerk told the court Mr Mckean’s lawyer was unwell, with his matter adjourned to November 3.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said selling counterfeit items and products was a deception and fraud that preyed upon the goodwill and back pocket of customers involved.
“The AFP has a zero-tolerance approach to anyone allegedly committing an offence that seeks to gain an unfair financial advantage via illegal means,” he said.
Attempts were made to contact Drip City Jewellers for comment.
