Lexington Stings Result in Arrests

The Secretary of State’s Office, along with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, report they have arrested 11 people and confiscated more than $300,000 in pirated DVDs and CDs and counterfeit merchandise during two separate sting operations in the past couple of weeks.

The individuals were allegedly selling bogus goods from booths at the Metro Flea Market on Highway 1 in West Columbia. Law enforcement officials said they had received complaints from customers who had purchased the inferior products.

"The sale of counterfeit merchandise hurts manufacturers, retailers, the local economy, and consumers," said Secretary of State Mark Hammond in a release. "Consumers should question inappropriate pricing on known ‘designer’ items, as well as where the items are being sold. Well-known designers do not intend for their goods to be sold in booths or from stalls."

According to authorities, Tracy Lechell Lomax-McBride and Edward Randy Turner of Columbia were charged with trafficking in illegally pirated recordings of movies. Turner was also charged with distribution of illegally pirated music CDs. 

Additionally, Ibrahima Conde of Memphis, TN, was charged with the distribution of counterfeit items. Issaka Dogo of Conyers, GA, was charged with trafficking in illegally pirated recordings of movies, distribution of illegally pirated music CDs, and distribution of counterfeit items. 

In a second sting, Orrian Jernard Anders of Lexington, Yusef Bilal Hameen, John Louis Anderson and Lavalle Moore, all of Columbia, Ronald Ahmed Fane of Summerville, Roderick Jermond Allison of Florence and Mustafa Jaleel Shanndoah of Charlotte, NC, were arrested and face charges ranging from distribution of counterfeit items to trafficking of illegal recordings, authorities said.

Goods seized included thousands of DVDs and CDs, as well as coats, handbags, hats, jeans, scarves, shirts, shoes, shorts, sweat suits, and other goods. The confiscated products bore the logos of many designer names: Air Jordan, Bape, Chanel, Coach, COOGI, Dolce & Gabbana, Ecko, Ed Hardy, Evisu, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, LRG, Major League Baseball, Motion Picture Association of America, NASCAR, NFL, Nike, Polo, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Recording Industry of America, and Timberland.

The counterfeit items will remain in storage while law enforcement awaits a court order to destroy them, authorities said.