TO: Warren Hanson and Caron Brace
FROM: Earl Fowlkes
Assistant Director, Field Enforcement Division
DATE: August 27, 2008
SUBJECT: Press release information, Case # 09-0095
Caron: Please highlight the fact that Sheriff Mike Lewis, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department, and his staff made the traffic stop, recognized the contraband, call us and turned this investigation over to us. FED has worked with Sheriff Lewis and his staff in the past on several investigations. Sheriff Lewis has always been a staunch supporter of our division.
At approximately 3: 45 PM, on August 26, 2008, Deputy First Class Joel Arnold and Sheriff Mike Lewis, Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department, stopped a 2006 Toyota Sienna, New York Registration, ECA 6165 on U.S. 13 North at mile marker 38, Salisbury, Wicomico County, for a traffic violation.
The operator of the vehicle, Zhen Ping Lin, Asian male, DOB 11-11-1954, from 17532 S. DuPont Hwy., Harrington, Delaware 19952, was found to be in possession of 4, 490 packs of contraband cigarettes.
Sheriff Lewis contacted the Comptrollers Office and agents assigned to Comptroller Peter Franchot’s, Field Enforcement Division, responded to assist with the investigation.
Upon arrival at the Sheriff’s Office, FED agents learned the driver of the vehicle and a passenger in the vehicle, Jinjkat You, Asian male, DOB 02-23-1967, from 235 W. 23rd Street., Chicago, Illinois 60616, were transporting the contraband cigarettes in black trash bags.
Zhen Lin and Jingkat You were both arrested and charged by FED agents with Transporting Contraband Cigarettes and Possession of Contraband Cigarettes in the State of Maryland. Charge #1. Transporting Contraband Cigarettes is a Felony, which carries a penalty of two years in jail and or a $50.00 a carton fine, or both. Charge #2. Possession of Contrabands Cigarettes is a misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of a $1000.00 fine or imprisonment not exceeding one year in jail or both.
The van being operated at the time of the stop and the contraband cigarettes, were seized by the investigating agents and are being held as evidences. The cigarettes and vehicle are subject to State and Federal Forfeiture Laws. The Field Enforcement Division will initiate forteiture procedures in the near future.
The sized cigarettes are valued at $22,539.80, and represent a tax loss to the State of Maryland of $8,980.00.
Zhen Lin and Jingkat You are currently being held at the Wicomico Detention Center. Each must post a $3000.00 bond before they can be released.
During fiscal year 2008, FED agents seized 55, 937 packs of contraband cigarettes valued at $ 263,120.13. The sized cigarettes represent a tax loss to the State of Md. of $86, 587.18.
Since July 1st. the start of Fiscal year 2009, FED agents have seized 18,390 packs of contraband cigarettes. These cigarettes are valued at $92,395.00 and represent a tax loss to the state of $36,694.00.
6 comments:
Good job as always Deputy Arnold.
When the government raises cigarette taxes so high it makes "crimes" like this inevitable. If the state were to lower its cigarette tax then Sheriff Lewis could spend his time fighting violent crime instead of looking for cigarettes in the back of vans.
Must be a comment from the 3rd floor at the SPD.
joe what ever happened to the old lady rapist?
Anonymous said...
When the government raises cigarette taxes so high it makes "crimes" like this inevitable. If the state were to lower its cigarette tax then Sheriff Lewis could spend his time fighting violent crime instead of looking for cigarettes in the back of vans.
3:24 PM
A crime is a crime and it needs to stop. If you are not happy with the taxes placed on your sick smoking habit then quit smoking. You might even save a couple of lives.
To 11:15 -- I don't smoke and never have. And just because some incompetent legislators vote to make something a "crime" doesn't mean it's morally wrong. Our greedy legislators want more money to spend on their pet project so they decide to force smokers to pay $2 a pack for the privilege of buying cigarettes in Maryland. If someone wants to save a few bucks and buy their cigarettes in Delaware then technically they are breaking the law. In my mind, though, they are just avoiding unjust taxation. I fail to see how that is morally wrong. In fact, I think they should be commended.
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