Alex from Heatwave tipped me off to this story and said there was way more to it than what appears in the papers.

Greg Sakas whose store was raided in late January heads up a company called Carolina Fun Products. From what I understand, Sakas has 13 stores in Virginia and six in North Carolina. The cops apparently came into one of his stores on a third class misdemeanor and confiscated the entire store. I’m also told that Sakas’ phones have been tapped and that the police are attempting to turn his employees against him to testify. I’m also told that the Christian Coalition is behind this raid and want him shut down.

I’m attempting to reach Sakas this afternoon. But here’s the story that originally appeared January 31, 2007.

New Bern, North Carolina New Bern police raided Pure Bliss the end of January as part of an investigation into the adult business, according to a police spokesman.

Chris Stansbury said police got a search warrant for possible violations concerning the sale of adult materials.

Under state law, an adult establishment cannot have multiple adult items for sale under one roof. According to Stansbury, police seized magazines, DVDs, videos and a variety of sex toys from the business at 2786 Neuse Blvd. The store had recently relocated from McCarthy Square.

Stansbury said police think the business is in violation of several city zoning ordinances, including its location to nearby neighborhoods and merchandise sold inside the store. He didn’t know the specifics and referred calls to city zoning officials, who could not be reached for comment.

No arrests were made, but Stansbury said the investigation is continuing.

Greg Sakas, the Goldsboro resident who owns the store, said that he did not know anything about police visiting the store and referred further questions to his lawyer, Glenn Barfield.

“We have been in contact with the appropriate authorities and are in the middle of discussing a resolution,” said Barfield, refusing to provide details and any further comment.