$10M Counterfeit Bust Uncovers Fake Goods

Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives on May 14 served search warrants at a downtown Los Angeles warehouse and a nearby retail store, seizing counterfeit luxury goods that authorities said carried a street value of $5 million to $10 million. The operation targeted a commercial warehouse in the 500 block of Main Street and a store in the 500 block of South Los Angeles Street, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and local television reports. Two suspects were arrested, NBC Los Angeles reported, citing law enforcement officials. The sheriff's department said the case remained under investigation. ### Where did deputies say they found the counterfeit goods? The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said detectives from its Major Crimes Bureau executed a warrant early Thursday morning at the downtown warehouse and the adjacent retail location. KTLA and MyNewsLA reported that investigators entered the building around 5 a.m. and removed large quantities of handbags, clothing, shoes and other goods presented as high-end brands. (mynewsla.com) Downtown Los Angeles was the focus of the sweep because authorities said the merchandise was being stored in one location and sold from another nearby storefront. The sheriff's department did not publicly identify the brands in the initial accounts, but local reports described the items as counterfeit luxury merchandise. ### How much did authorities say the merchandise was worth? (mynewsla.com) The sheriff's department estimated the seizure's street value at between $5 million and $10 million. Patch characterized the case as a "$10M counterfeit bust," while KTLA, CBS Los Angeles and MyNewsLA each reported the same range cited by deputies. That valuation reflects what the fake goods might have fetched if sold as purported designer merchandise, according to the sheriff's department's public description of the case. (mynewsla.com) Authorities did not release an itemized inventory or say how they calculated the estimate. ### Who was arrested, and what charges are public? NBC Los Angeles reported that two people were arrested during the operation, citing law enforcement officials. (patch.com) The public accounts available on May 15 did not identify the suspects by name, list ages or hometowns, or specify filed criminal charges. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said only that the investigation was ongoing. (mynewsla.com) Public sheriff's department pages available through routine search did not provide immediate booking details tied to the case. ### Which sheriff's unit handles counterfeit cases in Los Angeles County? The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says its Counterfeit and Piracy Enforcement Team takes tips on the sale and manufacture of counterfeit goods. (nbclosangeles.com) The department's intellectual property page directs the public to that team through the Community Partnerships Bureau and lists a reporting number of 323-981-5300. In this case, detectives asked anyone with information to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7893, CBS Los Angeles reported. (lasd.org) The station also said anonymous tips could be submitted through L.A. Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. ### How does this fit into other counterfeit cases around Los Angeles? A federal counterfeit-goods case tied to Los Angeles County ended in sentencing earlier in May, when a smuggler drew prison time in a scheme that prosecutors said involved about $200 million in fake shoes, perfume, handbags and watches from China, Patch reported, citing the U.S. (lasd.org) Department of Justice. That case was separate from the downtown Los Angeles raid, but it shows the scale of counterfeit investigations moving through Southern California courts and law enforcement agencies. (cbsnews.com) The sheriff's department has also maintained a standing public tip line for counterfeit-product complaints for years. Its online guidance says residents can report suspected sales or manufacturing of fake goods directly to county investigators. ### What comes next in the downtown Los Angeles case? The May 14 seizure remains under investigation, and authorities had not announced charges or court dates in the public reports available by May 15. (patch.com) The next public updates are likely to come from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, prosecutors or court filings if charges are filed against the two arrested suspects. (lasd.org) Anyone with information can contact the sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau at 562-946-7893 or submit an anonymous tip through L.A. Crime Stoppers, according to CBS Los Angeles. (cbsnews.com) (mynewsla.com)