What:              News Conference

When:             Monday, August 8, 2005, at 4:00 p.m.

Where:            LAPD Hollywood Police Station 
                        1358 North Wilcox Avenue, 
                        Hollywood

Los Angeles: On August 5, 2005, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Vice Unit served a search warrant for counterfeit merchandise in the 7600 block of Melrose Avenue. 

Detectives along with private investigators from Investigative Consultants confiscated over 1300 counterfeit Rolex, Tag Heuer, Breitling and other brand watches valued over 1.5 million dollars.  In addition, a large amount of cash was seized at the location.

During the operation, 26 year-old Yonaton Sonbolian was arrested for violation of Counterfeit Merchandise, which has a bail amount of $25,000.

It is estimated that counterfeiting and piracy costs the United States economy 200 billion dollars a year, as stated by the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition.

For additional information contact Sergeant Ken Buscarino, Officer-in-Charge, Hollywood Vice Unit at 213-972-2996.