NM smoke shop co-owner sentenced in 26 million dollar fraud case

From KOB-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The co-owner of an Albuquerque-based smoke shop accused of selling millions of dollars in untaxed cigarettes over the Internet has been sentenced to almost three years in federal prison. Paul Rainbird, 58, received a 33-month prison term Friday.Rainbird and his niece were indicted in October 2009 on 59 counts of conspiracy, mail fraud and possession, sale and transport of contraband cigarettes.Prosecutors say the San Ildefonso Pueblo members admitted to running an illegal business for five years that cost the state millions of dollars in taxes.The indictment put the gross wholesale value of the cigarettes at $26.2 million and taxes avoided by the scheme at $7.5 million. Read more
Share/Bookmark

0 comments:

Post a Comment