![]() ![]() Worldwide piracy disproportionately harms the entertainment and creative industries based in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Anti-Piracy Task Force was formed in February 2007 to combat the crippling impact to the Los Angeles economy of the counterfeit goods trade. “As the top law enforcement official in the City of Los Angeles, I will work with my partners to thoroughly investigate and vigorously prosecute those involved in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit merchandise.” ![]() Few realize that the money a consumer pays for a counterfeit product may very well be financing even more serious criminal activities- like gang crime,” said City Attorney Carmen Trutanich. “Counterfeiters are often involved in other, more dangerous illicit activities. When you combine the LAPD and the LA Sheriff’s Departments numbers over the past five years, there have been over 700 arrests made and more than $305 million worth of counterfeit goods seized. Since it’s inception in 2004, the LAPD’s Anti-Piracy team has served 181 search warrants, made 498 arrests and seized $93.8 million worth of illegal goods. Operation Chimney Sweep arrested 10 criminals and seized $4.06 million worth of counterfeit goods. Piracy is serious business, but we are determined to sweep it out of Los Angeles.”ĭuring the 2010 holiday season, under the leadership of the Anti-Piracy Task Force, dozens of officers – along with investigators from private industries – launched massive raids throughout Los Angeles making arrests and seizing millions of dollars of pirated movies, music and apparel. This should serve as a wake up call, not only to the criminals that produce and sell these illegal goods, but to all of the holiday shoppers out there. During these difficult economic times, every dollar lost to piracy represents wages lost for hardworking Angelenos. “We lose more than 100,000 jobs and billions of dollars to our economy each year because of these crimes. “People who make counterfeit goods are stealing, plain and simple, it’s the same as picking someone’s pocket or shoplifting,” said Councilwoman Greuel. (Los Angeles) – As part of its enforcement efforts to crack down on pirated and counterfeit goods, the Los Angeles Anti-Piracy Task Force, chaired by City Controller Wendy Greuel, announced the results of “Operation Chimney Sweep”, the largest raid on counterfeit goods in Los Angeles history. ![]()
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