The owner of a convenience store in New London has been arrested after investigators learned the store was buying tobacco from out of state and getting around using the state tax stamp, according to police.
Police said they were investigating an unrelated incident when they learned the Quick Shop Mini Mart at 61 Walden Ave. appeared to be selling cigarettes without the State of Connecticut tax stamp.
The Department of Revenue Services then looked into it and investigators performed a surprise inspection.
That led to the discovery of 194 cartons of untaxed cigarettes, approximately $3,000 worth of other untaxed tobacco products, more than $22,000 in cash and approximately $100,000 worth of fraudulent Connecticut tobacco tax stamps, police said.
The store owner, Mehulkumar Patel, 37, of Waterford, is accused of buying tobacco products from out of state, reusing discarded tax stamps and printing his own tax stamps that he would then tape onto the tobacco products.
Patel was charged with second-degree forgery, possession of unstamped cigarettes, possession of fraudulent tax stamps and possession of untaxed tobacco.
Patel was released on a $10,000 bond and he’s due in court on Aug. 31.
