Boone County convenience store owner pleads guilty to selling fake Juul products
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Boone County convenience store owner pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to selling fake Juul pods.
Rafiqul Khan pleaded guilty to two counts of selling counterfeit tobacco products, according to court documents. Both counts were misdemeanors.
US Customs and Border Patrol agents intercepted two shipments in 2019 from Hong Kong that contained “Juul Pods” used for vaping. Court documents state that an import specialist determined the products were fake and infringed on Juul’s trademark. The shipments were addressed to Khan, according to court documents.
An FDA agent visited Khan’s convenience store – Mari’s on East Prathersville Road in Boone County – on March 3, 2020, and purchased three pods. Court documents state a Juul representative examined the pods and determined them to be fake.
During a second visit to the store on April 22, 2020, Khan allegedly told an agent he wouldn’t be getting more of the product, according to court documents.
Khan admitted that he sold $40,794 worth of counterfeit Juul products.
A sentencing hearing date has not been scheduled.
ABC 17 News reached out to Khan’s attorney.
Khan previously pleaded guilty in 2016 to selling misbranded drugs. Khan had sold synthetic marijuana branded as incense and potpourri, according to a 2016 press release from the Department of Justice.
