NEW YORK (1010 WINS)  -- A bribery trial began Tuesday for two veteran police detectives accused of accepting counterfeit sports jerseys, Louis Vuitton and Coach bags, and other goods from a street peddler.

Detective Brian Bartlett, 39, a police officer for 14 years, and Detective Rodney Lewis, 41, a 20-year veteran, are charged in Manhattan's state Supreme Court with third-degree bribe receiving and receiving an unlawful gratuity.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Heffner said that between July and November of 2004, the detectives accepted goods from street peddler Jamil Faied in exchange for favors and information that let him protect his business at 27th Street and Broadway.

``They basically compromised their roles as New York City police officers for some fake merchandise,'' Heffner told the jury in his opening statement. He told the panel he would introduce recordings of tapped telephone conversations to prove the charges.

The officers' lawyers denied the allegations in opening statements, saying the only thing the detectives got from Faied was information that helped them do their jobs.

``Brian Bartlett never sold his detective shield based on an understanding that he was going to receive knockoff jerseys,'' lawyer Maurice Sercarz said in opening remarks. He said investigators have ``totally misapprehended'' the relationship between his client and the street peddler.

Lewis' lawyer, Eric Franz, promised the jury they would not see or hear any recordings that show his client accepting a bribe.

If convicted of the most serious charges, the officers could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
   
Faied, 44, was charged with third-degree bribery, which also carries a prison sentence of up to seven years. His case is pending.
   
Bartlett and Lewis were among five officers who were arrested in the case in 2005. One officer, Jashua Penalo, 33, pleaded guilty to third-degree bribe receiving and was sentenced to three years probation.
   
Cases against the other two officers, George Santiago, 39, a 17-year veteran, and Jaime Albertelli, 32, an 12-year veteran, are pending.