Man accused in phony Rolex frauds across U.S. facing charges in Surfside case
An Illinois man accused of phony luxury watch frauds across the United States is facing charges in connection with the sale of a fake Rolex in Surfside, authorities said.
Michael Milke, 28, who an arrest report said is from the Chicago area, is charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud, Miami-Dade jail records showed.
According to an arrest warrant, the local fraud case happened at Gray & Sons Jewelers in Surfside on Jan. 2, 2025, when Milke sold the store a Rolex GMT-Master II watch for $11,000.
The watch was later found to be counterfeit, the warrant said.
Investigators learned Milke was linked to several cases throughout the U.S. involving fake Rolex watches, the warrant said. They include:
- A December 2024 case in Waterford Township, Michigan
- A December 2024 case in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
- A January 2025 case in St. Petersburg, Florida
- A February 2025 case in Harris County, Texas
- A February 2025 case in White House, Tennessee
- A February 2025 case in Franklin, Tennessee
Milke had been arrested in Springfield, Tennessee, but after the arrest warrant was issued for the Surfside case he was booked into the Miami-Dade jail on Wednesday, records showed.
He appeared before Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer on Thursday.
“They said he’s a known fraudster who sells counterfeit watches,” Glazer said while reading the arrest report.
Glazer set his bond at $30,000 and ordered him to stay away from Gray & Sons.
