Summerville Brothers Receive a Stiff Sentence for Counterfeit Viagra Scheme
By James Seidel | CC News Network
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. — It was a hard pill to swallow for two Summerville brothers convicted of trafficking counterfeit Viagra. Ibrahim Shedid, 29, and Ahmed Shedid, 35, found themselves facing a stiff 26-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to a conspiracy that left them struggling to keep things up—legally speaking.
Federal investigators say the duo had trouble keeping things hard—law-abiding, that is—as they worked together to flood the market with fake Viagra. Their operations ran through their respective businesses, Big Boss Puff Stuff and A2Z Warehouse, where they sold counterfeit blue pills to convenience stores across South Carolina, fully aware the products were faking it.
A Hard-Hitting Investigation
The long arm of the law caught up with the Shedids in January 2024 when authorities intercepted a shipment containing 20 boxes of counterfeit Viagra headed to Big Boss Puff Stuff. Inside the boxes? Over 9,000 bottles of knockoff erectile dysfunction medication, worth millions.
It didn’t take long before another 10,000 bottles were seized from a storage unit tied to the brothers. In total, investigators confiscated more than $25 million worth of counterfeit Viagra—enough to keep pharmacies and fraudsters alike standing at attention.
Public Health Risks Rise as Counterfeit Pills like Counterfeit Viagra Flood the Market
“Trafficking counterfeit medication not only defrauds buyers but presents a public health risk,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “The $25 million value of these seized counterfeit drugs highlights the scale of this illegal operation and the potential harm it could have inflicted.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) echoed those concerns, emphasizing the need to crack down on fake pharmaceuticals. “This conviction sends a clear message—those who manufacture and distribute fake medication will be held accountable,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant.
SLED Chief Mark Keel didn’t pull any punches, either. “The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is committed to holding drug traffickers accountable for peddling poison in our communities,” he said.
A Hard Fall: Sentencing and Restitution
Despite their best efforts to keep things going, the Shedid brothers’ enterprise ultimately collapsed under the weight of federal charges. U.S. District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced both men to 26 months in federal prison, followed by three years of court-ordered supervision.
But the hammer didn’t stop there. The duo must also cough up a whopping $25,584,130.85 in restitution under the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act.
Feds Continue to Stay Firm Against Counterfeit Drugs
Authorities warn that counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a rising epidemic, particularly in the Southeast. CC News Network is currently investigating illegal drug trafficking routes, including reports of narcotics—including fentanyl—coming into South Carolina through St. Helena Island in Beaufort County.
With a growing fentanyl crisis gripping the nation, the fight against counterfeit and illicit drugs remains a top priority for federal and state law enforcement. Homeland Security Investigations, SLED, and the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office worked together to bring the Shedid brothers to justice, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower leading the prosecution.
For now, Ibrahim and Ahmed Shedid are heading to federal prison, where they’ll have plenty of time to reflect on their hard choices—though they won’t be cashing in on counterfeit prescriptions anytime soon.
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James Seidel – Publisher, Journalist, Author. Investigator, Podcaster, Radio Talk Show Host, and Music Producer.
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