MAJOR PIRACY BUST

Investigative Consultants conducted a long term investigation into two very large scale music piracy operations that were based in the Southern California area. The investigation involved conducting a long term undercover investigation in which one of our undercover investigators was able to infiltrate the piracy organizations. The undercover was able to make numerous purchases of pirated music from two very large distribution centers that appeared to be responsible for a large portion of pirated music to the Southern California area.

The Pirates operated their music piracy operation very similar to how drug dealers operate their criminal organizations. The pirates would meet their customers at predetermined meeting points. The pirates would transport the customers in their vehicles. The windows to the pirate vehicles were all "blacked out" so the customers could not see where they were being taken. The pirates also told the customers to keep their heads down and not to look up. The pirates would drive in circles to ensure that they were not being followed.

These efforts were not enough. The undercover investigator working the case was able to identify all the locations involved. The investigation was presented to the LAPD's Anti Piracy Unit. Search warrants were obtained and served at three locations on the same day. The operation resulted in two arrest and the seizure of over 157,000 pirated music CD's. This was the largest seizure of pirated music CD's in the LAPD's history.

OPERATION SECRET SANTEE

In our continued brand protection efforts, Investigative Consultants assisted the LAPD with Operation Secret Santee on December 18, 2008. Operation Secret Santee targeted vendors selling counterfeit and pirated merchandise in and around the Santee Alley area. Due to the LAPD’s ongoing anti counterfeiting enforcement efforts in the Santee Alley area, the vendors selling counterfeit merchandise have become very keen and aware to the methods that law enforcement uses to effect arrests for trademark counterfeiting and piracy. It has become increasingly more difficult to apprehend the counterfeiters and pirates.

The LAPD’s anti counterfeiting efforts in the Santee area have resulted in hundreds of recent arrests and the seizures of tens of millions of dollars in counterfeit merchandise, including handbags, sunglasses, hats, watches, jeans, toys, jewelry, and all other types of counterfeit and pirated items. The LAPD’s intellectual property enforcement program is in full effect and their efforts have begun to show great results. The number of counterfeiters and pirates in this area have greatly decreased, however there is still a long way to go.

So, back to Operation Secret Santee. Investigators devised a plan to enter the area undetected by the counterfeit vendors. The plan included having Investigators all enter the area wearing holiday costumes, such as a snowmen, stockings, elves, Christmas trees, reindeer, and Santa Claus in an effort to enter the area and observe the sales of counterfeit and pirated merchandise while being undetected by the counterfeit vendors.

The plan was a huge success. The LAPD was able to arrest ten separate vendors for such crimes as trademark counterfeiting and music piracy. Several of the vendors had prior arrests for counterfeiting and piracy. Several of those arrested were already on probation for intellectual property crimes. Investigative Consultants applauds the outstanding ongoing efforts of The LAPD.

By Investigative Consultants