By Paul Gable
The primary runoff election for the Republican nomination for South Carolina Attorney is next week, Tuesday June 23rd. The contest pits David Stumbo currently the SC 8th Judicial Circuit Solicitor against SC Sen. Stephen Goldfinch.
Whoever wins the Republican nomination will be the odds-on favorite to win the general election in November to become the state’s chief legal officer and chief criminal prosecutor.
It is important that voters know the background of a candidate seeking such an important position. To date, questions remain about a federal case involving Goldfinch and the improper handling of stem cells which was dismissed because of administrative neglect in 2017.
Grand Strand Daily contacted the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas Houston Division, for the documents on the case.
According to records from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas Houston Division, Goldfinch “aided and abetted by others known and unknown to the United States Attorney, caused the introduction and delivery for introduction into interstate commerce stem cells that were misbranded in that the stem cells and packaging did not contain directions for use.”
According to the charging document, the stem cells referred to, (harvested for research only), were instead sold to clinics to treat patients with severe diseases such as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in violation of federal law.
According to the court documents, an order for an issuance of summons for Goldfinch to appear in Houston, Texas at 10 A.M. December 10, 2013, was signed on November 27, 2013, by a U.S. Magistrate Judge.
According to a report by the Associated Press, dated November 28, 2013, Goldfinch told the reporter he had been cooperating with the federal investigation. Goldfinch told the Georgetown Times he would have no choice but to plead guilty to the charge. On December 4, 2013, theNerve.org published an article in which Goldfinch was quoted as saying, “I’ve fully cooperated with federal authorities and I told them I fully intend to plead guilty.”
Then, according to the records, nothing happened until December 21, 2017, when Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez filed a motion to dismiss (the case) in Houston District Court which stated, “This matter was filed under a proposed agreement which would have transferred this cause to the District of South Carolina. The transfer was never accomplished. The evidence has been destroyed and witnesses are no longer available … The United States no longer desires to prosecute this matter.”
The charge arose when federal prosecutors in Houston alleged upon their information that from April 26, 2006, through Dec. 30, 2008, a Mt. Pleasant-based company then owned and operated by Goldfinch and a partner, Yair Adereth, called Caledonia Consulting Inc., was involved with the “distribution and sale of stem cells” that had not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to “treat human diseases.”
At the time of the charge, Goldfinch told media he had no knowledge of illegal activities by those to whom the stem cells were sold or by the doctor who harvested the stem cells.
Dr. Vincent Dammai, a doctor initially charged in the case but against whom all charges were dismissed in a court hearing, presented a different story about Goldfinch’s involvement. Dr. Dammai, in a statement posted on his company website stated, Goldfinch, “who through his company Caledonia Consulting LLC, illegally supplied stem cells produced for research purposes to unlicensed clinics for treating patients.”
Dr. Dammai’s entire statement, posted as an “official archived legal webpage” on his company’s website, can be viewed at:
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