United States Attorney’s Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

SEYMOUR MAN WHO OWNED VALLEY TOBACCO STORES SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR TAX FRAUD

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHAFIQUIL ISLAM, age 44, of 113 Derby Avenue, Seymour, Connecticut, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to four months of imprisonment followed by four months home confinement, a fine of $10,000 and a one-year term of supervised release. ISLAM must also pay to the Internal Revenue Service all of the taxes he owes plus penalties and interest, which could amount to more than $350,000.

Islam, who owned and operated Sam’s Smoke Shop in Oxford and Smoke Junction, LLC in Derby, pleaded guilty on March 29, 2004 to a one-count Information that charged him with filing a false tax return that failed to report $197,000 of business income received from Smoke Junction during 1998. Islam admitted in court during the plea that his failure to report that and additional income caused the government a tax loss of about $63,000 for 1997 and 1998.

“This case is an example of our office’s vigorous enforcement of the tax laws to ensure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes,” stated United States Attorney O’Connor.

The case was investigated by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter A. Clark.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov