Friday, April 4, 2008

Counterfeit training session

Wednesday I went to a training seminar for the LAPD to learn about counterfeiting. LA just established in February a task force speciafically for counterfeit goods - it's been extremly sucessful so far. In March they coordinated a mass rad on Santee Alley (downtown shopping area) that is notorious for selling fake goods. Luckly, they only seized about 100 pairs of fake Rocks...good to see the numbers low. Total they seized over 1 million worth of product. They arrested over 35 people, 5 of them being gang members from the likes of MS-13 and 18th street (very bad gangs). This is an alarming trend (that gang members are becoming involved) because this will make it just that much more difficult to stop it - it's a direct provine contributor to terrorism, prostitution, child labor, human trafficking, and drugs to name a few. Anyway, I'm writing this because it was very interesting to go to. Most of the info I knew but they had a Q&A with two "reformed" counterfeit sellers which was awesome. One guy made 100K a year working flea markets saterdays and sundays selling bootleg dvd's - there is major money invloved. AND, the best part IMHO, was that the Louis Vuitton guy was there and I had him authenticate my purse...IT'S REAL!!!! phew! And he told me all the tricks to tell so now I'm an expert :)

2 comments:

Hamblin Family said...

Where you been girl? You still alive?

severts6 said...

Umm...someone needs to update their blog. You're killing me, I need some new info!