42,000 Counterfeit Cassette Tapes Seized in Raid; 2 Men Arrested

A raid on an East Los Angeles storefront led to the seizure of 42,000 counterfeit cassette tapes of Mexican artists and the arrests of two men, authorities said Saturday.

The raid in the 4300 block of East Floral Drive culminated a three-month investigation by deputies from the North Regional Surveillance and Apprehension Team into the storefront operation.

“Deputies arrested two suspects who were distributing counterfeit cassette tapes to persons who placed orders and would pick them up at the storefront,” Deputy Roger Hom said.

Deputies recovered 42,000 cassette tapes of various Mexican music artists along with $10,000 in packaging equipment, he said.

“It was estimated that the operation was doing a weekly business of about $10,000,” he said. The tapes sold for $7 each, deputies said.

Francisco Rojas De La Luz, 21, and Jose Luis Paredes, 26, both of East Los Angeles, were booked on suspicion of possession of counterfeit audiocassettes, a felony. Bail was set at $5,000 each.