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Saturday, June 08, 2013

DSP And DATE Arrest Tobacco Smugglers In Georgetown



Location: South DuPont Boulevard (US113) and Arrow Safety Road, Georgetown, DE

Date of Occurrence: Thursday June 6, 2013 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Defendant, Charges, and Bond Information:

Konstantinos Tsolatis, 63, Astoria, NY (Photo Attached, blue shirt)
Possession of Untaxed Cigarettes
Attempt to Evade Delaware Excise Tax
Conspiracy 2nd
Driving without a Valid License
Operating a Motor Vehicle without Taillights

Arraigned at JP3 and released on $4,500.00 unsecured bond.

Panagiotis Tzathas, 72, Astoria, NY (Photo Attached, green shirt)
Possession of Untaxed Cigarettes
Attempt to Evade Delaware Excise Tax
Conspiracy 2nd

Arraigned at JP3 and released on $4,500.00 unsecured bond.

Resume:
Georgetown, DE- The Delaware State Police and Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement have arrested two men in connection with smuggling tobacco through Delaware.

The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. yesterday as a trooper on patrol in the area of South DuPont Boulevard (US113) and Arrow Safety Road observed a 1995 Jeep Cherokee without two working taillights. A traffic stop was conducted and contact was made with the driver, Konstantinos Tsolatis, 63, and passenger, Panagiotis Tzathas, 72, of Astoria, NY. When the trooper initially approached to the vehicle, filled trash bags were observed through the rear windows and loose cartons of cigarettes were scattered throughout the rear of the vehicle.

Further investigation and a search of the vehicle revealed the occupants were in possession of a total of 205 cartons of cigarettes bearing Virginia tax stamps along with $11,539 in cash. Both individuals were taken into custody without incident and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) was notified and responded to Troop 4 to assume the investigation. DATE agents determined that the 205 cartons were obtained in Virginia and were being transported to an unknown destination. DATE agents seized the cash and the 1995 Jeep Cherokee and charged both Tsolatis and Tzathas with Possession of Untaxed Cigarettes, Attempting to Evade Delaware Excise Tax, and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. Tsolatis was also charged with Driving without a Valid License and Operating a Motor Vehicle without Taillights. Both were released on a $4500.00 unsecured bond pending future court action.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

so that means, the state is going to keep everything, just dont come back.

Anonymous said...

How long before cops start getting killed over cigarettes?

Anonymous said...

The Government makes more money per pack of cigarettes then the manufacturer or retailer. Same as gasoline.

Why?

Anonymous said...

Lesson: Don't steal. The government does not like the competition.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
The Government makes more money per pack of cigarettes then the manufacturer or retailer. Same as gasoline.

Why?

June 8, 2013 at 8:29 PM

Because they are the ones that can pass the laws, have the laws enforced by any means possible, and convince the all to frequently stupid public that it is in their best interest.

Most business oriented people would see reselling cigs as a profitable venture. With no real victims except the greedy state treasuries.

So they concoct a story how the profits are going to support terrorism to gain public support for enforcing laws that ruin people's lives and businesses.

But totally ignore the hundreds of MILLIONS our government sends to the SAME terrorists we are supposed to be fighting wars against.

And also IGNORING the facts that we let known terrorists and their supporters in our country to begin with, sometimes with warning from other countries of exactly who the terrorists are to begin with.

I'm really not trying to turn this into a political thing, but it is impossible not to when it is all connected, IF you pay attention.

Some with itchy ears are happy to hear the lies we are told since that is what they want to hear in the first place. Otherwise, they might just have to take some kind of action, and they would rather give up another freedom, give away another right, turn their neighbor in, etc., than actually have to oppose injustice.

As long as it does not affect them personally, they couldn't care less what happened to the 'other guy'.

When in reality, they are only postponing their own destruction. One day they will realize that when it too late. And they will disappear too, just like the ones before them.

Anonymous said...

Stop taking advantage of addicted tobacco users through unending taxes and this sort of thing would go away.

Anonymous said...

Weren't the Ramadans supposed to have the monopoly on this? Guess not. Now it's illegal to drive on a highway with anything untaxed. Yet, Delaware advertises as the tax free state. Are all purchasers of goods from DE going to be arrested when they cross into Maryland for having illegal and untaxed items?

Anonymous said...

I'm quite sure the tax funds derived from tobacco are diverted to minority
interests in the form of food stamps and free medical care...
NOT what they said.

Anonymous said...

OH my !!!! people were arrested for smuggling cigarettes across state lines. The same thing happened with Alcohol when the Government could not keep its paws off its taxes and laws. 10,000 people died during that era 1,580 law enforcement - I am not impressed with the arrest.

Anonymous said...

Maryland's Comptroller Peter Franchot hasn't bought his own smokes in years.