4 charged in Saluda bust
From staff reports
Published: Saturday, November 10, 2007 11:53 PM EST
The Saluda Police Department has made multiple arrests in connection with the sale of counterfeit music and movies.

On Friday, the Saluda Police Department -- with the assistance of undercover agents with the Recording Industry Association of America -- reportedly bought counterfeit merchandise from two stores in Saluda: The Mexican Grocery, located at 301 Batesburg Highway and owned by Sergio Torres; and the Mexicana La Providencia, located at 118 Main St. and owned by Minerva Pliego.

Search warrants were then obtained and executed with the assistance of agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, and Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office narcotics agents.

As a result of those search warrants, authorities say they seized about $7,500 worth of counterfeit merchandise. This included 658 music CDs and MP3s, 23 DVDs, clothing, ID holders, bracelets, covers, bandannas, sports equipment and fuzzy dice.

Also seized were prescription drugs with a value estimated at $7,000, police say.

One rifle and four pistols were also taken, along with an anti-money laundering kit, according to authorities.

Sergio Torres, Antonio Torres, Minerva Pliego and Salvador Pliego were each arrested and charged with prohibitions related to sound recordings.

Sergio Torres and Minerva Pliego will also be charged with numerous counts of possession of prescription drugs without a prescription.




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