Deputies Make Big Counterfeit Merchandise Bust In North Highlands

NORTH HIGHLANDS (CBS13) – Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies have made a massive counterfeit merchandise bust in North Highlands, finding everything from fake Gucci wallets items to Air Jordans, according to officials.

Deputies raided BJ's Urban Fashions in the 5500 block of Watt Avenue Tuesday afternoon and seized $100,000 worth of fake goods. They arrested business owner Raymond Silas, 39, he was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail. He is being held on $105,000 bail.

The store was selling clothing, shoes, sunglasses, wallets and more from brands like Gucci, Coach, True Religion, and Nike. But they were all fakes. Despite being counterfeits, the goods were priced in the $100 to $200 range.

BJ's Urban Fashions has been in business since 2009 and also offered a catalog selling the counterfeit goods, according to the sheriff's department.

Deputies made the bust after getting tipped by a Homeland Security investigation and the brand "police" working for Gucci and Nike.

Investigators say some of the fake goods are actually made in the same factories as the real items, but the counterfeits are made after hours with less-skilled workers and cheaper materials.

Tuesday's arrest was the culmination of an undercover operation in which Sacramento sheriff's deputies were aided by the Placer County Sheriff's Department, Sacramento Police Department, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and private investigators.