Northfield Man Charged With Tax Crimes

NORTHFIELD, MN — A Northfield man was recently charged with two felony counts of possessing unstamped cigarettes and untaxed tobacco products, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

Rodney Willard Klindworth was charged in the Goodhue County Attorney's Office and could face up to five years in jail and/or pay a fine of up to $10,000, authorities said.

During a traffic stop, an officer saw several large boxes of unopened cigarettes and stacks of chewing tobacco in Klindworth's car, officials said.

Klindworth, who admitted to not being a licensed tobacco vendor or distributor, told the officer he got the tobacco from out-of-state meaning it was likely untaxed, according to officials.

Investigators found that the tobacco didn't have Minnesota Cigarette Tax stamps, authorities said. The tax on the unstamped tobacco totaled over $6,600, according to officials.