Whiteville gun store owner charged with selling counterfeit goods

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — A Whiteville gun store owner is facing multiple felony charges following an investigation into counterfeit products allegedly sold at his business.

According to the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, John Phillip McPherson III, 41, of Whiteville, was charged after a joint investigation with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators say counterfeit gunsights, knives and arm braces were discovered at North State Armory, located at 920 S. Madison St. in Whiteville.

McPherson is charged with one felony count of criminal use of a counterfeit trademark, three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses and three felony counts of attempted obtaining property by false pretenses.

Officials say the seized products allegedly carried counterfeit brand names including Sig Sauer, Leupold, Aimpoint, EOTech and Microtech. Microtech is a North Carolina-based knife manufacturer located in Mills River.

The estimated retail value of the seized items is more than $7,000, according to investigators.

The investigation remains ongoing.

North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall said customers who believe they may have purchased counterfeit products from the store should contact the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.

“Counterfeit optical sights have the potential to cause serious safety issues, so it is urgent that customers who believe they may have purchased counterfeit goods from this store reach out to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office,” Marshall said in a statement. “Knock-off optics frequently have non-tempered glass and shoddy plastic that can shatter and cause serious eye injuries, and many are also made with hazardous chemicals that could cause long-term health issues.”