Bristol Business Owner Smuggled Millions In Tobacco

BRISTOL, PA — The operator of a business based in Bristol has been convicted of illegally smuggling tobacco, federal prosecutors announced.

Ramzi Al Najar, 43, of Staten Island, N.Y., transported nearly $40 million worth of tobacco from Pennsylvania to New York without paying millions of dollars in New York state excise tax on that tobacco, U.S. Attorney William McSwain's office said.

His week-long jury trial was presided over by U.S. District Court Judge Petrese B. Tucker.

To avoid paying taxes, Najar and associates created fake invoices and filed false documents with Pennsylvania and New York regulators, underreporting the amount of tobacco sold. He also failed to register and report as an interstate seller of smokeless tobacco, as required by law.

"Tobacco is a product that poses serious health risks, and therefore it is heavily regulated by the government," McSwain said. "Here, the defendant attempted to skirt the system and cheat everyone who pays taxes on tobacco products. The defendant has to play by the rules, just like everyone else, or suffer the consequences. My office will continue to work with our partners at the federal, state, and local levels to investigate and prosecute this type of fraud."

The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Food and Drug Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"This jury verdict sends a clear message that the illegal interstate diversion of tobacco products will not be tolerated," said William S. Walker, acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia.