Man convicted of trafficking in counterfeit Viagra

AP via News and Record ^ | Thursday, January 25, 2007 | (AP)

[Rb ver. 2.0]

RALEIGH (AP) — A Wilson convenience store operator has been convicted of trafficking in counterfeit Viagra, federal officials said.

A jury in Greenville convicted Hatem Abu Hassan, 47, on Wednesday of one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property; four counts of interstate transportation of stolen property; and five counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Raleigh.

The government said Hassan sold a counterfeit Viagra mixed with ingredients such as gypsum, a primary component of wallboard.

The investigation, which included the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Drug Administration, also led to arrests in Virginia and New York.

Sentencing for Hassan is set for May 7.

[TigersEye]

My mother was on this jury. Seriously.

Was it hard for her to come to a conclusion?

Ducking

[Constitution Day]

All right now!! *shakes fist*

[TigersEye]

Sorry. You can't post a straight line like that and expect it to be ignored. It's just not human! *running for cover*

[Paloma_55]

If the jury took more than 4 hours to come to a verdict, should they have contacted a doctor?

[Constitution Day]

They were also moving stolen infant formula.

I told my mom that that + Viagra seemed like a self-perpetuating business.

[TigersEye]

ROTFLOL You're just milking this joke now. 8-O

[JRios1968]

Stretching it for all it's worth...

[Constitution Day]

I bet this guy doesn't eat at Parkers.

By coincidence, I did eat @ Parker's today.

Check your e-mail for details (not jokes) on this case.

[Constitution Day]

She thought that was pretty funny too.

[TigersEye]

Was the jury reprimanded and instructed not to laugh? I'd be thrown out of that court.

[dblshot]

He could be hung.

[Loud Mime]

I wish I could have been there for the testimony by the victims. The defense attorney could have had a great time!

[TigersEye]

Alternate title:

"Hatem does hard time for soft drug."

[Constitution Day]

No, even the judge was joking around about sending the evidence (the fake pills) back to the jury room.

He was worried some would go missing! :)

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Researching the placebo effect .... yeah....that's the story!