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10:35 p.m. • 2-10-12

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2 Charged in Moore County Counterfeit Operation


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Donald Fondrie
Donald Fondrie and Warren Fondrie

A father and son in Moore County have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged counterfeit operation in which more than a thousand of parcels were shipped around the world.

Donald G. Fondrie, 70, of 736 Ginseng Road, and Warren E. Fondrie, 47, of 1209 Greenbriar Place, both of Vass, face two felony counts of possessing counterfeit trademarked goods with intent to sell the counterfeit goods.

Both men and a third person, Pei-I Chou, 41, a Taiwanese national, were also charged with resisting a public officer.

The North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State said the Fondries allegedly operated a business in which they imported fake goods from China with brand names including Nike, Titleist, Scotty Cameron, Golf Pride and LaCoste, and sold them on eBay.

Over a 28-day period, 1,113  parcels were sent across the United States and to foreign countries such as France, italy, Australia, Canada and Singapore.

"Just the sheer volume has been very large, and as I say, we're not yet through inventorying so we don't have a real dollar value, but we have lots of pieces and boxes full of these golf products, accessories and apparel," Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said.

Marshall said the alleged operation will have an impact on both businesses and the community.

"There are a lot of losers in this counterfeit product business," she said, including local merchants who invest in the community."

"When that company's product is being knocked off and a fake is sold, that impacts their bottom line," she said. "Additionally, sales tax is not paid on these to local governments."

The arrests, made last week, were the result of a two-month investigation by state and federal investigators. The U.S. Postal Service monitored shipping traffic connected to the case for some time, and there could be federal charges.

RELATED TOPICS: Moore County

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"what?? Nancy says good job to law enforcement. Are you ok?"

catch 22, of course I do, they did a good job, what would be wrong with saying so? I don't suffer ignorant law breaking LE, but I do support good law enforcement. I know the difference.

Gatechfan-- I AM grateful to LE for doing this! You must not know that counterfeit products have killed hundreds, if not thousands of people around the world...they used to avoid the U.S. for the most part...but thanks to the Internet the drugs, the food, the drinks and the auto parts you use soon may be fakes that KILL you! I say get them all outta bidnesss now no matter what fake junk they are selling.

The counterfeits are being made in the same factories that the real goods are made in. Any excess capacity beyond what the official licenser buys is sold out the back door. The Chinese have no concept of intellectual property and copyright protection. I saw a picture of a knockoff car made in China that had Mercedes front end and a BMW back end.

Don't feel sorry for the manufacturers when their use of cheap Chinese labor backfires on them.

Two more thugs down, too many to go. Shame now our tax money will support them. LOSERS!

Sorry but "dad" looks as though he's saying what the f---? too funny

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