Two Men Arrested In Vernon County For Selling Fake Jewelry

Two men are in custody and awaiting formal charges related to a high-risk traffic stop in Viroqua Monday. Authorities arrested 28-year-old Alexandru Uca of Kent, Washington and 27-year-old Armando Vaduva of Fullerton, California Monday. A report says between May and July, law enforcement received reports in both St. Croix and Vernon Counties of men claiming to be out of gas and offering to sell jewelry in exchange for cash. In at least one of those incidents, witnesses reported seeing a firearm. The jewelry in question turned out to be fake. On Monday, authorities in Richland County received reports of men flagging down vehicles asking for gas money near Richland Center. Deputies in Vernon County spotted their vehicle at the intersection of US Highway 61 and Highway 27 in Viroqua. Authorities conducted a coordinated, high-risk stop due to the possibility the suspects were armed. Both men were taken into custody without incident. An unspecified amount of cash and jewelry were seized, and their vehicle was impounded.