Field Enforcement Division agents seize 1,650 packs and vehicle
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced that agents from his Field Enforcement Division (FED) arrested three Philadelphia men who have been charged in Maryland as a result of a surveillance operation on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.
"My FED agents are dedicated to identifying criminals who try to cheat the system and use Maryland as a transportation conduit for their illegal activities," Comptroller Franchot said. "Their vigilance protects Maryland businesses and levels the playing field for all."
Agents said Quay Samuel Chaney, 54, was seen buying multiple quantities of cigarettes from various locations June 28 and concealing the cigarettes in the rear seat area of a 2008 Volvo. Chaney was a passenger in a car driven by Ronald Tucker, 59, and occupied by another passenger, Edward B. Johns, 65. The three then drove from Virginia into Maryland, where the car was stopped by police at Sheep House Road in Pocomoke, Worcester County.
Agents searched the vehicle and found 1,650 packs of contraband cigarettes, valued at $10,642.50 and representing a tax loss to the State of $3,300. The cigarettes and car were seized and all three were arrested.
Each man was taken before a Worcester County District Court Commissioner in Snow Hill and charged with a felony count of transporting contraband cigarettes and a misdemeanor count of possession of contraband cigarettes.
Mr. Chaney is being held on a $16,500 bond at the Worcester County Detention Center. His preliminary hearing is set for July 24. Mr. Tucker and Mr. Johns were each released on personal recognizance. Both have hearings set for July 17.
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In the end, the state will spend more investigating, arresting and prosecuting than the tax loss.
ReplyDeleteYeh that’s really important crime fighting🤣🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣😂😂😂
ReplyDeleteAccording to what I heard on last evening's news Franchot DID NOT make the arrest - he only announced the arrest made by Field Agents of FED. The three men went before the Worcester County District Court Commissioner in Snow Hill and were charged with a felony/
ReplyDeleteI know right 6:57 but what do you expect from a democrat run state. Never met a tax they don't love (even though MD isn't affected since the men are from PA). And now we have these pathetically ignorant democrats hollering like freaks to abolish ICE their reason being the agency's drifted away from it's original intent. Same here--- the police aren't revenue collectors especially for another state. Not that your democrat voter can understand this. They are all nothing but useless lying dumbed down products of the US public "education" system.
ReplyDeleteThere are Muslim cartels doing this very same thing. It harms other convenience store owners who obey the law and the local Muslim (Basil Ramadan) had stolen more then $60million with part of it being used to fund terrorism and the purchase of property in Princess Anne (Islamic society of Princess Anne) who now owns the PNC bank which PNC sold to them for 1/3 its value for their Somerset County Mosque. The Islamic society also owns land in Worcester County where a Muslim graveyard is being planned. Look it up. Basil Ramadan. PNC Bank Princess Anne. Islamic Society of Princess Anne. Islam Society and MdLandrec.net Worcester & Somerset. An Islamic candidate just ran for Princess Anne City Council in June. They're here.
ReplyDeleteWhen's the car being auctioned off?
ReplyDeleteSame here--- the police aren't revenue collectors especially for another state. July 3, 2018 at 7:19 AM
ReplyDeleteThe tax they "evaded" was Maryland Tax on cigarettes once they transported them into Maryland. Not only that, but their car (whatever a 2008 Volvo is worth) and the cigarettes, worth over $10,000, were confiscated, and they won't get any of that back. They bought the cigarettes just across the MD/VA line, and the paid informants that work at the cigarette stores, just call the MSP, and tell them the car is on its way. Those poor saps were set up, and only made it about 3 miles into MD before they were busted. They have got to be some real stupid people to buy contraband cigarettes at the state line.
I buy mine in va all within the legal limit.
ReplyDeleteStupid Old Philly natives...you need to go deep into VA or NC to obtain your cigs - not down the route 13 corridor idiots where everyone knows everyone!
ReplyDeleteSHEESH!
Leave it to democrat Smuck franchot to waste tax payers money so the worthless little man has something to brag about. Only the incredibly ignorant fools who vote democrat would ever think this is a good thing. The cigs weren't even being sold in MD. Instead of hanging out on the MD/VA line to make an easy arrest again to give Loser fanchot something to brag on the FED officers should be in the communities of MD actually catching someone in the act of selling the untaxed cigarettes to people.
ReplyDeleteMaryland doesn't lose a dime. The cigs were bought in VA and were going to be sold in Philidelphia. They were simply being transported thru MD. Our cops and resources were used to save other states money, makes no sense at all.
ReplyDeleteIt's about time for the Romadon guy to be getting out for his cigarette smuggling ain't it?
ReplyDelete9:54 yes he was the guy that owned the ocean city dairy queens and a couple of other business in OC. He had a couple of Bodega's in New York was where he was headed with those cases of cigarettes. That whole family was trying to be like those Clinton's a big Crime Family.
ReplyDelete10:59 but unlike the Clintons he didn't pay off the correct people. If he had he would still be in business and never been arrested much less gone to jail.
ReplyDeleteThe government is JUST LIKE THE MAFIA.
ReplyDeleteThey want their cut. Deserve it or not, they will imprison or kill you if you don't make sure they get paid the proper bribe.
Just buy guns and ammo.
Tax collectors often just disappeared back in the day when American's were actually free from gangs of highway robbers and armed enforcers bent on taking whatever they want. Or at least, their cut of it.
how did maryland lose money on this?? the cigarettes were bought in virginia and were being taken to philly, virginia taxes were paid on them.the people who bought them live in philly so how does maryland figure into this? i`m confused is maryland now saying that i have to pay maryland sales tax on everything the enters their state? if i`m from georgia and i drive to new york to visit my grandkids,do i have to pay a maryland sales tax on the vehicle i`m driving while passing through maryland? and what about all the things i have in my car do i have to pay maryland sales tax on them too? because that`s just insane! you liberal states are crazy!
ReplyDeletelmclain said...
ReplyDeleteThe government is JUST LIKE THE MAFIA.
I have been saying that since I was a kid. If you look at the ways each are set up you will find they are very similar. Patrolmen=soilder. Sgt.=crew leader. Captain=Consigliere. Superintendant=Family head. Etc.
This article did not mention where each was from. If they don't reside in Maryland, how could Md. claim they were losing tax money since these men wouldn't buy them in Md. to begin with, they would buy them where they live. The same goes for those arrested in the past.
They are just going after tax cheats, they don't care about the law. (the powers that be that is)
The basis of any business is to buy low, sell high, isn't it? They are cutting the middleman, state taxes, out of the picture.
Remember the billions upon billions several states received in their lawsuits against tobacco companies? Does anyone know where that money goes to now? Does anyone hold that accountable?
Maybe they could use some of it on our roads and highways. The U.S. Rt. 13 in Maryland AND Delaware is in bad shape for one, with all the buckles in it. Some people might not notice it but I do on my trike. Most times I have to drive around 45 mph without being bounced around, and then I got vehicles riding my butt because they want to go 65-70. Sorry, you're just going to have to go around.