Feds Hold Armed Raids Against Fashion Counterfeit Vendors

Were the drawn guns really necessary?

A woman who covets these and other posh brands sits on a couch in a dark Westminster living room, staring at a carpet practically covered by not-so-posh knockoffs of handbags, purses and wallets – all emblazoned with the desired names.

Word of mouth brought the woman to this home, occupied by a suspected seller of counterfeit merchandise. Today — Thursday — she's in the market for a Louis Vuitton purse, but her husband won't let her buy the real thing because it's too expensive.

But her shopping trip is about to end.

Outside, weapons drawn, several federal agents approach the front door.