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.
thank Obama for that .
What about the American borders and the illegals coming in they are counterfeit
Their actually raiding flea markets to round up and make a list of the gun salesmen at these flea markets. You can buy them their with out registering them. We will provably hear more of these stories.
they want job security. create a problem where none exists
DHS NEEDS TO BE DISBANDED & GONE FOREVER!!!
What’s next yard sales?
If not going to enforce borders, they re work on mom and pop. Reckless, un guided, poorly supervised ! Maybe the agents could start delivery of guns and ammo to other the other desperate agencies that need them. Dept of interior, health and welfare , agriculture, etc!
Actually……….. They have… Dept of agriculture is buying .40 cal SW sub machine guns atm… https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=9fc3a01217d03b0354e1e18b69aa7bad&tab=core&_cview=0
State Dept is buying explosives and hardware to assemble over 1,000 IED’s right now too…
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=b0a06189659221306176f41391c2fa33&_cview=0
You are so much closer to accurate then you know bro….
These raids are just Eric Holder’s continuation of attacking and harassing small business owners… 10s and 10s and 10s of thousands of businesses within the last year have been attacked by DOJ. Example:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/09/25/grocery-store-detroit-irs-column/2868797/
Goes to show who they work for. CORPORATE AMERICA! Flea market are where people buy things, usually from other flea markets, and bulk stuff to resale. I’m sure some of these people are victims themselves, not knowing it’s counterfeit. Still don’t know where this is a DHS area. Sounds like the government is sending a message to the people that they are our new masters. Flea markets are usually among the common folk.
Oh thank god we are safe now from the knock off’s look out Walmart your next,great job DHS keep it up.
I guess this is the extent of there qualifications. Most likely they will be giving out parking tickets next. WHAT A WASTE OF TAX PAYER MONEY. Wonder what there furniture budget is.