The Dept. of Homeland Security, along with local law enforcement, raided a flea market this past weekend near Lawrence, Mass., arresting 40 people for selling counterfeit goods.
Since when is DHS suppose to be raiding flea markets? Aren’t they suppose to be tracking down terrorists? Oh wait, that’s what the Muslim Brotherhood organization considers Americans to be.
LAWRENCE — Police, joined by agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, arrested 40 people for selling counterfeit items at two flea markets yesterday.
“This is an effort to support local, legitimate businesses who have complained of these individuals selling bogus merchandise,” Interim Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick said of the sweep last night.
“Over the course of several months, we targeted individual selling counterfeit goods and counterfeit intellectual property. Our investigation culminated with the arrests of over 40 people involved in selling these illicit items,” he said. “In recent history, I believe this is probably the largest raid in Massachusetts involving counterfeit goods.”
The raids began at about 11 a.m. yesterday and lasted through late afternoon. The raids took place at Don Flea Market at 85 Manchester St., and Lawrence Flea Market and Auction House at 468 N. Canal St, near the Falls Bridge, according to Fitzpatrick. The Police Department used several vans, some of them loaned by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, to transport the defendants to the Lawrence Police Department, where they were being booked last night.
Fitzpatrick said he believed that most of those charged were from out of town.
“The Department of Homeland Security was the lead with Lawrence Police Department,” said Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office.
“We were part of the investigation and we will prosecute,” she said.
Police referred all comments on the raid to federal authorities. Calls to the U.S. Attorney’s office and Homeland Security were not returned.
Fitzpatrick said federal agents planned to wait until tomorrow before issuing a press release about yesterday’s raids.
“There’s a great deal of evidence that needs to be cataloged,” Fitzpatrick said of the items seized. Some of the counterfeit items sold were fake lines of clothing, he said.
It seems paltry but there is a huge underground economy at these things. Illegals run their business at a flea market, pay no taxes, no health insurance, and still collect tons of welfare benefits.
Also a good place to look for stolen articles.
Velkome to my Kuntry… itsa very nice place two live, if hugh plan on doin nutting! Ve vill kuntrol evry ting hugh do or sell! Da state vill take kare uf hugh andt your family. Don’t vurry, hugh all vill be Oh Kay… tanks to Obama! Now go back in pure howse andt do nuttin!
DUH, DHS is an umbrella named Department that contains over 11 specific Agencies —raids were by US Customs, their job, one of many.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA Disaster Assistance
Transportation Security Administration
U.S. Coast Guard
Computer Emergency Readiness Team
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Secret Service
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Federal Protective Service
Yo, Christopher Rummel, The illegals were at Walmart spending heaps of your and my “FREE” welfare money, while poor CITIZEN taxpayers were scrounging change from the sofa, and ash tray in car to buy at the flea market. That is why no illegals arrested at Flea Market. If they (illegals) were there they had already bought the “Genuine Imitation” except no substitutes ID, from the guy in the van parked at the back of the flea market.
Homeland security and the patriot act is exactly what the people on the whole asked for and wanted because they didnt feel safe anymore.
since they are not doing what they are suppost to be doing ie: illigals, then they have to fill their time doing something and justify their pay checks.
Arresting folks for selling illegal items is products is the right thing to do, I just wonder why Homeland Security was involved…should be the local police and perhps the FBI if crossings state lines was suspected, but H.S.?? Blessings on ya <><
This is dumb, im so willing to buy a knock off
Fraud and counterfeiting is a legitimate concern for DHS and interpol for that matter, because is it often tied directly to organized crime (often international syndicates who also traffic in other illicit items like drugs and weapons.)