Gaston Man Convicted of Trafficking in Counterfeit Medications

Contact Person: DeWayne Pearson (803) 929-3000

Columbia, South Carolina ----William N. Nettles, United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina announced that Arthur Fleming Moler, age 51, of Gaston, was found guilty after a jury trial of trafficking in counterfeit goods, smuggling illegal medications and theft of government services. Facts presented during the trial showed that Moler sold and shipped counterfeit goods and medications, including illegal replicas of Viagra and Cialis, from his Columbia based business, South Carolina Liquidations

According to testimony presented during the case, United States Customs agents discovered counterfeit golf equipment being shipped from China to South Carolina Liquidations at 1215 Shop Road in Columbia, South Carolina. When investigators entered the warehouse, they discovered hundreds of counterfeit designer handbags, sunglasses, electronic equipment and over 2 million dollars’ worth of counterfeit erectile dysfunction medications. Sentencing in the case has not yet been scheduled but Moler faces a possible sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Postal Service and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson of the Columbia office.