A Tea Party (or Tea P-Arrrrrr!-ty) leader in South Carolina was arrested Tuesday for allegedly selling pirated versions of Microsoft software, Photoshop, and the Rosetta Stone language programs.
Anthony and Michael Trinca, 61 and 23 respectively, were arrested after a witness claimed that in May he purchased six copies of Rosetta Stone from Anthony Trinca through Craigslist for $125 each, but then discovered they were fake when tried to resell two of them. After refunding his own customers, the victim said he tried to get his money back from Trinca, who refused.
According to WMBF News, the victim picked up four of the six copies of the software from Trinca’s home in Myrtle Beach, where he he says he noticed copies of other kinds of software as well that appeared to be heavily underpriced.
Anthony Trinca is president of the Grand Strand Tea Party — whose site happily autoplays the Crimson Tide theme music. It also features a (probably) photoshopped picture of a pair of elderly people giving the finger, because, as the site says, “seniors in REVOLT” over the AARP’s “treachery” in supporting health care reform.
On the “Friends & Foes” page, Trinca lists the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and South Carolina’s Constitution as friends. The Foes are more specific. Among others: Communism, Students for a Democratic Society, Media Matters, Moveon.org, Daily Kos, and, of course, George Soros.
The Grand Strand Tea Party also apparently fears a plot by North American officials to “integrate” Mexico, the U.S. and Canada into one country. And then there is the part of the site that still clings to birtherism (because clearly Trinca knows a little something about fakes) by claiming that President Obama’s “Birth Certificate Faked so bad it had to be done on purpose!”
The Trincas face charges of “unauthorized use or trafficking in counterfeit trademarks.” They were each released on a $5,000 bond.
Jillian Rayfield
Jillian Rayfield is a Reporter/Blogger for TPM, and started as a News Intern in May 2009. She graduated from Cornell University in May 2008 with a degree in Film, and worked as a Research Assistant for a market research firm in London in between.
Facebook Conversations
Questions about commenting with non-Facebook accounts like Yahoo, or other concerns? Click here to read the TPM Commenting FAQ.