What started out as a crime has been turned into a good deed, thanks to a local judge and Sampson County Sheriff’s investigators.

That gift - merchandise confiscated throughout the year and considered pirated goods. The recipients — displaced veterans who might benefit from a pair of shoes or a warm jacket.

According to Sheriff’s Cpl. Marcus Smith, officers had accumulated a lot of seized property that had been considered pirated material. District Court Judge Leonard Thagard agreed recently to authorize the department to dispose of that seized property by way of the Sampson County Veterans Council.

“It was a way of providing gifts to some very deserving individuals,” Smith said. “It was great to do some good with something that was gotten in a not so good way.”

Smith said officers believed that giving it to the Veterans Council would benefit displaced veterans who might be in need of some clothing items.

“We were happy that it worked out,” Smith said.

In all 56 pairs of tennis shoes, three pair of boots, one pair of dress shoes and four jackets were donated.

“Hopefully it will help someone who really needs it,” Smith said of the donation.