California Sneaker Seller Says LAPD, Nike 'Devastated' His $12M Business in 'Illegal' Raid

Project Blitz owner Andre Ljustina claims authorities seized Kobe Bryant-signed items and other luxury goods in a raid that 'immediately devastated' his business.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:15am

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Andre Ljustina, the owner of the luxury goods reseller Project Blitz, has filed a lawsuit against the LAPD and Nike, claiming they 'illegally' raided two of his warehouses in January 2024 and seized over 5,000 items, including some signed by the late Kobe Bryant. Ljustina says the raid 'immediately devastated' his $12 million business, which sold high-end fashion and sneakers to celebrities like Drake and Morgan Wallen.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential risks and consequences for businesses caught up in law enforcement actions, even when they may not be directly involved in any criminal activity. Ljustina's lawsuit raises questions about the legality of the raid and the handling of the seized merchandise, as well as the impact on his livelihood and reputation.

The details

Authorities believed they were investigating a scheme where scammers were intentionally misdirecting 'unreleased' Nike merchandise from a Tennessee warehouse to a man named Roy Lee Harvey Jr. in the Los Angeles area. Harvey was arrested and charged, but Ljustina claims the seized items from his warehouses were not 'unreleased' and included products signed by athletes like Kobe Bryant, who had died years before the alleged scheme. Ljustina says the LAPD quickly publicized the raid on social media before Nike could review the merchandise, leading to business partners shying away from him and being 'effectively blacklisted' by the companies whose products were seized.

  • The raid occurred on January 27, 2024.
  • The alleged sneaker theft scheme involving the Tennessee warehouse took place in 2023 and 2024.

The players

Andre Ljustina

The 46-year-old owner of the luxury goods reseller Project Blitz, which had $12 million in annual sales before the raid.

Roy Lee Harvey Jr.

A man who lived in the Los Angeles area and was arrested and charged with 27 counts of receiving stolen property in relation to the alleged sneaker theft scheme.

LAPD

The Los Angeles Police Department, which conducted the raid on Ljustina's warehouses.

Nike

The sportswear company that collaborated with the LAPD in the investigation and raid.

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What they’re saying

“LAPD and Nike's illegal actions immediately devastated Ljustina's business.”

— Andre Ljustina, Project Blitz owner

“Nike and the LAPD wrongfully destroyed Andre's livelihood by taking essentially the entirety of his Nike collection without legal justification.”

— J. Alejandro Barrientos, Ljustina's lawyer

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow the seized items to be returned to Ljustina.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential risks for businesses caught up in law enforcement actions, even when they may not be directly involved in any criminal activity. It raises questions about the legality of the raid and the handling of the seized merchandise, as well as the impact on Ljustina's livelihood and reputation.