Task Force Nets Counterfeit Denim, Apparel
A multi-agency, anti-counterfeit task force seized thousands of pairs of counterfeit True Religion and other branded jeans, Ed Hardy shirts, DVDs, and other merchandise valued at $2.7 million while arresting 28 people in a pre-holiday crackdown in the Los Angeles Fashion District.
The raids, dubbed “Operation Clean Sweep,” were conducted Dec. 18–20 by the Los Angeles Anti-Piracy Task Force and took in more than 200,000 pieces of merchandise, resulting in the second-largest bust in Los Angeles history. The defendants are facing a variety of charges, including manufacturing, distribution and sales of counterfeit goods, said Los Angeles Police Commander David Doan.
“We lose more than 100,000 jobs and billions of dollars to our economy each year because of these crimes,” explained Los Angeles Councilmember Wendy Greuel during a Dec. 23 announcement of the bust. Deborah Greaves, general counsel for True Religion, added that selling counterfeit apparel has been linked to gang activity and other serious problems.
According to a Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. report, piracy costs the Los Angeles economy jobs across nine sectors for a total of $4.4 billion in lost wages annually.
The raids were carried out by 45 police officers along with investigators from private industries.
The task force was formed last year and is taking a three-pronged approach by improving education, creating new policies, and increasing enforcement of counterfeit apparel and other goods. —Robert McAllister
