Dish-Houston

So just how much is having a "name brand" logo on your person worth to you?? Is it the savings your after or the social climbing? Is there a status that you feel necessary or some how makes you more worthy?? Well wearing fakes can only make you worthy of wearing an orange jumpsuit and a jail sentence!

According to the Houston Police Department, one of the largest counterfeit goods raids in recent history went down this week where tthousands of fake Louis Vuitton, Coach and Jimmy Choo purses were boxed up and confiscated. The HPD Major Offenders Division said it also took in hundreds of fake name-brand shoes.

The allegations are that they were all sold by a small businesses located inside the Armadillo Flea Market on Airtex near Interstate 45 North.

“We had support from ICE and also the Harris County District Attorney’s office. We are such a small squad that, to do something of this magnitude, we do turn to other agencies that enforce it also and they help us. Without them we obviously couldn't do it,” said Sgt. Frank Quinn.

For more than a month, HPD said it sent undercover officers into the stores with cash.

Eight people were arrested and charged with trademark counterfeiting -- a felony in the State of Texas!

Others who weren't targeted by police sure didn't want to hang around.  As soon as investigators moved in Sunday afternoon, they quickly locked up their stores and took off running.

That doesn't mean they are safe from the long arm of the law however,

“I did notice it, and really you have to select a target that you can live with at the time,” Quinn said.

Approximately 281 boxes of counterfeit goods containing 11,000 pieces were gathered up with police saying the manufacturers suggested retail price of the goods was approximately $5 million.

See DISHIES...it doesn't pay to be fake!

P.S....Who in the world would knock of Coach?? It's cheap and ugly enough isn't it??

In an economic time where the Salvation Army has more clients than resources a big donation is more welcome than usual. Currently on display and up for bid at the Washington Avenue Salvation Army store is a set of three allegedly real Salvador Dali pieces. According to a recent piece in the New York Times, the lot was donated by a wealthy widow of an oil magnate who has been a gracious supporter of the Adult Rehabilitation Program at the Salvation Army. She prefers to stay anonymous.

The pieces came with documentation from 2 years ago stating that they were in fact real and not fakes. Dali is one of the most faked artists in the world. The authenticity of the pieces are, of course, up for debate due to two of the most well known and respected Dali authorities in the U.S. having such a strong dislike for each other.

Regardless of the drama surrounding the donation, it's a huge coup for the Salvation Army to have such a wonderful opportunity. The pieces have been appraised at more than $70,000 and at last count the bid sheet was up to $8,000.

For more information about the Salvation Army and how you can help this wonderful program, CLICK HERE.