Downtown Merchant Hit With $3.9M Judgment For Selling Counterfeit Goods

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The city of Los Angeles has won a $3.9 million judgment and permanent injunction against a downtown merchant for the sale of counterfeit jewelry, apparel and handbags, the largest judgment secured by the city in a counterfeiting case.

Maria Luisa Sanchez was found to have committed 1,586 trademark violations since at least 2009 while selling counterfeit jewelry, apparel, handbags and related items in downtown Los Angeles storefronts, including a business called Blue Boo at 1034 Maple Avenue.

At the time, Sanchez was on probation from a 2012 conviction for the sale and possession of counterfeit goods.

"Counterfeit goods hurt legitimate businesses and deprive the public of needed tax revenues to fund vital city services," Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement.

The judgment against Sanchez is the largest ever secured by the City Attorney's Office in a counterfeiting case and the second multi-million dollar judgment against a counterfeiter in the past six months, Feuer said.

Sanchez was also ordered to cease all business operations at her store on Maple Avenue and not be present at any location where counterfeit goods are sold, stored, manufactured or transported. She was also ordered to notify the City Attorney's Office in writing if she owns, operates or works in a Los Angeles business related to commonly counterfeited items.

Besides the judgment, Sanchez was also assessed the maximum penalty of $2,500 for each of the 1,586 counterfeit items she sold and/or possessed for sale.