27 Charged in Probe of Garment District
Misdemeanor charges were filed Wednesday against 27 owners and employees of 14 garment district companies accused of manufacturing and selling counterfeit copies of major brand-name clothing.
The charges, filed by the Los Angeles city attorney’s office, grew out of a police crackdown Dec. 13 at more than a dozen locations in the district.
An estimated $1 million in phony merchandise and manufacturing equipment was seized and 19 people were arrested during the raids.
Deputy City Atty. Fay Chu said that counterfeit-label merchandise confiscated included Nike, L.A. Gear, Guess?, Body Glove, British Knights and Reebok.
The 27 defendants were charged with the sale of counterfeit merchandise, offering counterfeit goods for sale and making false and misleading statements.
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