Fayetteville business owners charged with counterfeiting
Four Fayetteville business owners and one employee have been charged after authorities seized more than $100,000 worth of counterfeit clothing.
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Charges of criminal use of a counterfeit trademark were filed against John Anthony Breedlove, 40, owner of Got Fresh Exclusive Outfitters; Brydes Deshawn Clack, 26, and Kendal Kamar Ragland, co-owners of BK Fashions, at 1073 Murchison Road, Suite 133; and Lincoln Andrew Waters, 35, owner of Capps, at 1073 Murchison Road, Suite 115.
A Capps employee, Terell Maurice Dickens, 32, of 737 Hedgelawn Way, was charged with criminal use of a counterfeit trademark, felony conspiracy and resisting, obstructing or delaying detectives.
Additional charges of felony conspiracy were filed against Waters, of 2613 Rebecca Lane in Kinston, Clack, of 635 Marshtree Lane in Fayetteville, and Ragland, of 1878 Tyron Drive in Fayetteville. Breedlove, of 1333 Ramsey St. in Fayetteville, was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State opened an investigation after customers complained that items they had purchased were inferior. The items included boots and tennis shoes bearing the Timberland and Nike trademarks.
"Their profits have been linked to either funding organized crime, drug trafficking or terrorist organizations," said Sgt. Bobby Jeffers.
The men are not charged with anything tied to terrorism. Jeffers said said places overseas where counterfeit goods are made often funnel money from the sales back into terrorist organizations.
Jeffers said it's important for people buying these items to know where their money could be going.
Along with counterfeit clothing, authorities seized several firearms and marijuana. A laptop stolen from a Cumberland County home last year was found in Breedlove's business, authorities said.
Breedlove was being held in the Cumberland County Detention Center Thursday under a $25,000 secured bond. He was expected to appear in court Thursday afternoon.
Clack, Ragland, Waters and Dickens have all been released under separate, unsecured $10,000 bonds.
Waters and Dickens have previous convictions for drug possession, according to state Department of Correction records.
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