8 Shelters, Agencies Get Confiscated Sportswear

Eight homeless shelters and social service organizations in Los Angeles have received $1 million worth of counterfeit designer sportswear in a giveaway of evidence used by prosecutors to convict 14 people of manufacturing and selling bogus designer goods.

The clothing was seized during a police operation in December and included counterfeit T-shirts, jogging suits and sweat shirts bearing such designer brands as L.A. Gear, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Giorgio.

"We had the choice of destroying these goods or giving them to these nonprofit organizations working with youth and helping the needy," said Los Angeles City. Atty. James K. Hahn.

The brand-name companies supported the clothing giveaway, Hahn said.

The recipients of the clothing included the Union Rescue Mission, Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women, Las Familias del Pueblo and a Los Angeles Police Department youth program.