(A) It is unlawful for a cigarette manufacturer, cigarette importer, cigarette distributor, or cigarette retailer to sell or possess counterfeit cigarettes. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be punished as follows for a:

(1) first violation with a total quantity of fewer than two cartons of cigarettes, by a fine of one thousand dollars or five times the retail value of the cigarettes involved, whichever is greater, or imprisonment not to exceed five years, or both;

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Terms Used In South Carolina Code 11-48-90

  • Cigarette distributor: means a person required to pay the tax imposed by § 12-21-620 or authorized to affix a tax stamp to a cigarette package pursuant to Title 12. See South Carolina Code 11-48-20
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.

(2) subsequent violation with a total quantity of fewer than two cartons of cigarettes, by a fine of five thousand dollars or five times the retail value of the cigarettes involved, whichever is greater, or imprisonment not to exceed five years, or both the fine and imprisonment, and the revocation by the Department of Revenue of any license required pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 21, of Title 12, held by the cigarette manufacturer, cigarette importer, cigarette distributor, or cigarette retailer;

(3) first violation with a total quantity of two cartons of cigarettes or more by a fine of two thousand dollars or five times the retail value of the cigarettes involved, whichever is greater, or imprisonment not to exceed five years, or both; or

(4) subsequent violation with a quantity of two cartons of cigarettes or more by a fine of fifty thousand dollars or five times the retail value of the cigarettes involved, whichever is greater, or imprisonment not to exceed five years, or both the fine and imprisonment, and revocation by the Department of Revenue of any license required pursuant to Article 5, Chapter 21, of Title 12 held by the cigarette manufacturer, cigarette importer, cigarette distributor, or cigarette retailer license.

(B)(1) For purposes of this section, counterfeit cigarettes includes cigarettes with false manufacturing labels or packages of cigarettes bearing counterfeit tax stamps.

(2) Counterfeit cigarettes and related machinery encountered by a law enforcement agency in connection with a charged violation of this section are declared contraband and must be seized by the law enforcement agency and held by it pending adjudication of the charges. Upon conviction, the counterfeit cigarettes and related machinery are forfeited and must be destroyed.

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