David Haisten, Counterfeit Pet Products, SC 2024

David Haisten, 51, and Judy Haisten, 51, of Irmo, South Carolina, are facing federal charges in a sprawling counterfeit operation that peddled fake pet pesticides, misbranded animal drugs, and pirated DVDs through an online storefront. Unsealed yesterday, the indictment hits the couple with one count of conspiracy, six counts of violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, five counts of distributing misbranded animal drugs, and three counts of trafficking in counterfeit goods.

The Haistens allegedly ran a sophisticated e-commerce scheme that bypassed federal safety regulations, selling unregistered pesticides designed for pets—products that could pose serious health risks to animals. According to the indictment, the couple sourced and distributed counterfeit versions of veterinary drugs and labeled them as legitimate treatments, deceiving pet owners across state lines. They also flooded the market with bootlegged DVDs, capitalizing on demand for low-cost entertainment media.

If convicted, the penalties are severe: a maximum of 54 years behind bars, a $7,850,000 fine, a $950 special assessment, and a mandatory 3-year period of supervised release. The charges reflect the federal government’s escalating crackdown on counterfeit goods that threaten public health and intellectual property rights.

The investigation was led by a multi-agency task force including the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General, the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Homeland Security. Their probe peeled back layers of online obfuscation, tracing shipments, financial records, and falsified product labels back to the Haistens’ operation in Irmo.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Christopher E. Parisi is prosecuting the case, underscoring the Department of Justice’s commitment to holding accountable those who profit from dangerous knockoffs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced the charges, emphasizing that even non-violent crimes can carry prison sentences when public safety is compromised.

An indictment is not a conviction. David Haisten and Judy Haisten are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the evidence laid out suggests a calculated, profit-driven enterprise that exploited regulatory gaps and consumer trust—one that federal authorities say won’t be tolerated.