The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office along with the Secretary of State’s Office joined forces this past weekend to conduct a sting at the Orangeburg Flea Market on Saturday resulting in five arrests.
Officials said that in addition to the five arrests, approximately $100,460 in counterfeit merchandise was confiscated.
“We are very happy to partner with the Secretary of State’s Office on this,” Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams said. “It’s important to me and my deputies to put an end to this type of activity in Orangeburg County and to bring the offenders to justice.”
Arrested for distribution of counterfeit goods were a Pops Drive man and an Irmo man.
According to an OCSO incident report, one male fled the flea market on foot as officers approached him Saturday.
However, officers found the man’s identification that he had left behind. A vehicle left at the flea market was discovered to be registered to the same man who fled. Inside, deputies found a quantity of counterfeit material.
On Sunday, that Jamison Avenue man turned himself in to authorities. He was also charged with distribution of counterfeit goods.
In other arrests, a Stilton Road man and a man from Cheltenham, Md., were charged with illegal distribution of sound recordings.
Bond was set on each of the subjects at $3,000.
The initial three may be facing fines and penalties of $20,000 and/or up to five years in prison. The two men charged with bogus DVDs may face fines up to $250,000 and/or five years in prison for the illegal distribution of recordings charge.
A partial list of the counterfeit merchandise seized Saturday included clothing, handbags, wallets, sunglasses and shoes, as well as CDs and DVDs.
Officials said some of the items bore registered trademarks of well-known companies, such as Apple Bottoms, Gucci, the Motion Picture Association of America, National Basketball Association, Nike and Tommy Hilfiger.
Investigators say they received consumer complaints regarding the quality of merchandise at particular booths at the Orangeburg Flea Market, located on Bamberg Highway south of Orangeburg.
Upon Saturday’s investigation, authorities say the OCSO was successful in shutting down the booths at the Orangeburg Flea Market. The counterfeit items will remain in storage while investigators await a court order to destroy them.
“We have a commitment to area retailers to investigate these types of crimes, which not only affect their individual businesses but hurt the Orangeburg County economy as well,” Secretary of State Mark Hammond said. “The only real way to stop the distribution of fake merchandise is to stop buying it. We hope the good people of Orangeburg County join us in our fight against counterfeit merchandise.”
Hammond said that since January, 28 people across the Palmetto State have been arrested on counterfeit-related charges. Records kept since Hammond took office in 2003 indicate more than $2,115,260 in counterfeit goods have been seized.
In February, a Bennettsville store was shut down after police found movies such as Juno and Atonement on the shelves. At the time, those movies were still in theaters. More than 530 CDs and nearly 650 DVDs were confiscated.
That case is still pending.
Anyone who may see or have knowledge of counterfeit merchandise can speak with an investigator with the Secretary of State’s Office at 803-734-2170.