Franchot Agents Arrest Salisbury Man, 3rd Time

Defendant Arrested for Illegal Cigs Before in 2006 and 2008 --

Annapolis, Md. (March 16, 2009) - Field enforcement agents for Comptroller Peter Franchot confiscated more than 5,000 packs of contraband cigarettes and arrested a Salisbury man Saturday night along U.S. 13 North in Somerset County. The incident marks the defendant’s third arrest in Maryland concerning contraband cigarettes.

“Following the recent announcement of lower than expected revenue projections, unremitting tax scofflaws will not be tolerated,” said Comptroller Franchot. “Maryland needs to keep hold of each dollar it is due. We will continue to crackdown on this kind of illegal activity.”

Comptroller’s agents stopped a 2009 Mercury Sable, with Florida license tags, at approximately 2:30 p.m. and discovered 5,234 packs of contraband cigarettes valued at nearly $26,300. Officials seized the illegal cigarettes and arrested the driver, Ming Keang Louie, 60, of Salisbury, MD. Agents charged Louie with transporting contraband cigarettes and possession of contraband cigarettes. The transporting charge is a felony, which carries a $50 per carton fine and/or two years imprisonment; and the possession offense is a misdemeanor, carrying a $1,000 fine and/or imprisonment, not exceeding one year.

Comptroller agents arrested the man two times prior to this weekend’s incident. In 2006, Louie was charged with transporting and possession of 2,440 packs of contraband cigarettes after being arrested on Route 12 in Worcester County. His second arrest occurred in May 2008 when he was stopped on U.S. 13 North at Brantley Road with 4,870 packs of illegal cigarettes. Again, he was charged with transporting and possession of contraband cigarettes.

Louie was remanded to the Somerset County Detention Center and must post a $30,000 bond before he will be released. The contraband cigarettes and the vehicle were seized as evidence and are subject to state and federal forfeiture laws.

Since the start of fiscal year 2009 on July 1, Comptroller agents have already arrested 89 individuals for tobacco violations and seized 136,448 packs of contraband cigarettes valued at $653,694, compared to the 55 individuals and 55,967 packs that were seized in all of fiscal year 2008.