The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance says a Rome restaurant operator has been arrested for selling contraband tobacco products.

59-year old Shao Hua Wu is accused of selling untaxed cigarettes and tobacco at the China Inn on South James Street.  The contraband products were allegedly sold through a related affiliate, Low Price Tobacco.

The Tax Department seized 95 cartons of untaxed cigarettes amd about 50 pounds of loose untaxed tobacco products.

Wu is charged with multiple felonies, including possession of untaxed cigarettes and criminal tax fraud.  He's scheduled to appear in court on July 14th.

“Evasion of the state’s cigarette tax isn’t something we take lightly, and the potential penalties prove that,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Jerry Boone. “The defendant faces multiple felony charges and fines of up to $600 per carton of illegal cigarettes seized.”

 

 

More From WIBX 950