Dank, Inc.

Dank, Inc. was a Forestdale company which was involved in the import, distribution and sale of cigars with counterfeit labels. The company is owned by Faisal Elnaham and former UAB Blazers running back Jegil Dugger, who were arrested on July 27, 2009 for theft of trademark after a four-month investigation.

The company imported cigars made to their specifications in India and labels printed in China, assembling the counterfeit products in Dugger's McCalla home and at a bingo parlor on Alabama State Highway 269. The cigars were packaged and sold as Swisher Sweets and Cigarillos (trademarks owned by Swisher International) and Black & Mild's (trademark owned by the John Middleton Company).

The investigation was triggered when a customer sent a pack of the suspect cigars to Swisher, complaining of their low quality. The company was able to determine that the cigars and packaging were counterfeit and notified law enforcement agencies. After the four month investigation, officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office served search warrants at eight locations to collect evidence for trial. They seized thousands of cigars as well as packaging materials, 30 computers, several weapons and other documents. Officials recalled numerous suspect products from stores across the southeast. Eventually, the charges against Elnaham and Dugger were nolle prossed - meaning the prosecution formally told the court it was no longer pursuing the case.

References

• Robinson, Carol (July 28, 2009) "Jeffco authorities uncover cigar counterfeiting ring." The Birmingham News
• Stein, Kelsey (June 5, 2015) "Man previously arrested in cigar counterfeiting ring, 1 other charged in EBT fraud investigation." The Birmingham News