Four Long Island Men Charged With Tax Fraud In Connection With Trafficking Of Cigarettes In Franklin County
ALBANY, NY (02/09/2010)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward today announced the arrest of four Long Island men for their role in trafficking 1,500 cartons of untaxed cigarettes. The four were arrested in the town of Duane in Franklin County.
The individuals were arrested on February 4 by State Tax Department investigators following a traffic stop by U.S. Border Patrol Agents. During a search of one of the two vehicles the suspects were travelling in, agents found the untaxed cigarettes, which represented an estimated $47,000 in unpaid taxes to the state.
"These arrests should serve as a warning to others who engage in trafficking in untaxed cigarettes," Acting Commissioner Woodward said. "The Tax Department will continue to work with our state and federal law enforcement partners to hold bootleggers accountable."
"Those who traffic in untaxed cigarettes wrongfully deprive the county taxpayers of revenue and force residents to shoulder a greater share of the tax burden, taxes that pay for health care, education and transportation," said Franklin County District Attorney Derek P. Champagne.
Charged in the case were:
Simon Kintu, 29, of 559 Sleepy Hollow Dr., Shirley, NY
Damont Phipps, 28, of 44 D La Bonne Vie, E. Patchogue, NY
Alfredo Quinones, 27, of 2 Horizon La., Bellport, NY
Stanley Gray, 29, of 58 Edgewater St., Mastic, NY
The four were charged with Tax Fraud in the Third Degree and Unlawful Possession of Untaxed Cigarettes, both class D felonies punishable by up to seven years in state prison.
They were arraigned before Judge Robert C. Currier and remanded to the Franklin County jail in lieu of $15,000 cash or $45,000 bond and will reappear in the Town of Duane Court on February 18.
The office of Franklin County District Attorney Derek P. Champagne will coordinate the prosecution of these suspects. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives seized the two vehicles involved for possible forfeiture.
Acting Commissioner Woodward thanked the U.S. Border Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New York State Police and the Franklin County District Attorney's Office for their cooperative efforts on this investigation.
The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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