L.A.'s Biggest Anti-Piracy Raid
L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel speaks at Anti-Piracy Task Force Press Conference. Pictured third from left is L.A. City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.
Operation Chimney Sweep wrapped up Dec. 20 with the last arrest connected with the series of anti-piracy raids. It was the largest series of anti-piracy actions in the history of Los Angeles and a total of 10 arrests were made, according to Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel.
On Dec. 22 some of the raids' $4.06 million in counterfeit goods were put on display during a press conference of the Los Angeles Anti-Piracy Task Force, which is chaired by Greuel. The event took place at Los Angeles Police Headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
The raid found counterfeit iPhones, pirated DVDs of movies like Tangled and The Tourist which are still playing in theaters and lots of apparel. I saw Louis Vuitton boots and bags, True Religion jeans and Polo shirts among the counterfeit goods.
The scheduling of the pre-Christmas press conference was intended as a message to consumers. Greuel said buying counterfeit goods takes money out of the hands of honest manufacturers and retailers. She quoted a Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. study which found piracy cost Los Angeles County businesses $5.2 billion dollars each year.
Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich also spoke during the press conference. He said if piracy was stopped, the gaping budget deficits of the City of Los Angeles would be filled.The deficit is $485 million according to a Los Angeles City website.
Counterfeit True Religion jeans
Detailed stitching on a counterfeit True Religion jean
