Summerville Brothers Sentenced to Federal Prison for $25M Conspiracy to Traffic Counterfeit Viagra

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Ibrahim Shedid, 29, and Ahmed Shedid, 35, of Summerville, were each sentenced to 26 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to sell and traffic counterfeit Viagra.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Ibrahim Shedid owned and operated Big Boss Puff Stuff and Ahmed Shedid owned and operated A2Z Warehouse. The brothers worked together to distribute and sell counterfeit Viagra to convenience stores, knowing the pills were counterfeit.

In January 2024, law enforcement intercepted a shipment of 20 boxes of counterfeit Viagra, which was being delivered to Big Boss Puff Stuff.  The evidence revealed that the 20 boxes that were intercepted contained more than 9,000 bottles of counterfeit Viagra.  After the January 2024 delivery was intercepted, more counterfeit Viagra was seized from a storage unit associated with both Ahmed Shedid and Ibrahim Shedid.  In total, more than 10,000 bottles of counterfeit Viagra were seized from the brothers. The retail value of all counterfeit Viagra seized from the defendants was more than $25 million.

“Trafficking counterfeit medication not only defrauds buyers but presents a public health risk. The $25 million value of these seized counterfeit drugs highlights the scale of this illegal operation and the potential harm it could have inflicted,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who peddle these dangerous products, protecting the health and well-being of our community.”

“Counterfeit pharmaceuticals pose a serious threat to public health. This conviction sends a clear message- those who manufacture and distribute fake medication will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant who leads Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte, covering North and South Carolina. “HSI and our partners remain committed to protecting consumers from dangerous drugs.”

“The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is committed to holding drug traffickers accountable for peddling poison in our communities,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “This case is a testament to the great law enforcement partnerships we have in South Carolina.”

U.S. District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Ibrahim to 26 months to be followed by a three-year term of court ordered supervision. Ahmed was also sentenced to 26 months to be followed by a three-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.  The brothers were also ordered to pay $25,584,130.85 in restitution pursuant to the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.

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