Secretary of State’s Office and Horry County Police Conduct Memorial Day Weekend Counterfeit Merchandise Bust
May 30, 2012
$504,000 in counterfeit goods seized at Atlantic Beach Bikefest
ATLANTIC BEACH, SC – May 29, 2012 – The South Carolina Secretary ofState’s Office partnered with the Horry County Police Department lastweekend to arrest three vendors charged with distribution of counterfeitmerchandise, illegal distribution of recordings, and trafficking incounterfeit goods.
The counterfeit merchandise included CDs, jeans, sunglasses, hats,handbags, shoes, wallets, cell phone covers, iPad covers, and DVDs. Somecompanies misrepresented were Air Jordan, Burberry, Chanel, Coach,Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, MajorLeague Baseball, Motion Picture Association of America, National HockeyLeague, NCAA, NFL, Nike, Oakley, Polo, Recording Industry of America,True Religion and Versace.
The Secretary of State’s Office has worked with the Horry County PoliceDepartment in the past to shut down counterfeit operations during theAtlantic Beach Bikefest. Arrested this weekend were Kinda Assani,Mamadu Camara, and Khalita Ababacar Diop. As a condition of operating abooth at the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, all vendors were required to signa Vendor Registration Form from the Town of Atlantic Beach that read,in part, “Counterfeit merchandise is prohibited.” The investigation isongoing.
“This shows that there continues to be a problem with counterfeit goodsbeing brought into Horry County,” said Lt. Jamie DeBari of the HorryCounty Police Department. “We will continue to work in partnership withthe Secretary of State’s Office to protect consumers from individualswho attempt to sell fake and fraudulent goods.”
“The sale of counterfeit merchandise is not a victimless crime. Itexploits our tourists, hurts manufacturers, retailers, and the economy,”said Secretary of State Mark Hammond. “I encourage consumers toquestion inappropriate pricing or markings on known ‘designer’ items, aswell as where the items are being sold.”
Distribution of counterfeit merchandise carries a fine of up to $20,000and/or five years imprisonment. Trafficking in counterfeit goods, aswell as illegal distribution of recordings, carries a five year prisonterm with fines up to $250,000. Trafficking of counterfeit goods valuedbetween $10,000 and $50,000 is a felony with a fine up to $20,000 andfive years in jail or both. More stringent trademark legislation waspassed in 2006 as a result of the joint efforts of law enforcement andthe Secretary of State’s Office.
For more information regarding trademark violations or to register atrademark in the State of South Carolina, contact Secretary of StateMark Hammond’s office at (803) 734-2170.
