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City attorney hails $3.96-million judgment in counterfeiting case

Counterfeit watches that were seized by the Los Angeles Anti-Piracy Task Force. L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer on Wednesday announced his office won a $3.96-million judgment against a downtown L.A. merchant who was selling counterfeit goods.
(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
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The Los Angeles city attorney’s office Wednesday hailed a $3.96-million judgment and permanent injunction against a downtown merchant as the largest judgment the city has secured in a counterfeiting case.

Maria Luisa Sanchez committed 1,586 trademark violations over at least the last five years, and sold counterfeit clothing, jewelry, handbags and other items at different storefronts, the city attorney’s office said.

She was fined $2,500 for each of the 1,586 counterfeit items that she sold or had for sale.

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“The judgment is testament to how seriously our office and the courts view counterfeiting,” said City Atty. Mike Feuer in a statement. “Counterfeit goods hurt legitimate businesses and deprive the public of needed tax revenues to fund vital city services.”

Officials said Sanchez’s most recent store was located at 1034 Maple Ave., for which a judge issued a permanent injunction.

Under the injunction, Sanchez must cease “all business operations” at the store and not be present at any location where counterfeit goods are “sold, stored, manufactured or transported.”

Twitter: @aribloomekatz | Facebook

ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com

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