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Press Release

Cigarette Trafficker Sentenced

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Virginia
Anjay Patel Will Serve 84 Months In Federal Prison

HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA – The final member of a conspiracy that purchased untaxed cigarettes in Virginia and transported them throughout the United States was sentenced this week in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

Anjay Patel, 37, of South Carolina, and others, were indicted in November 2011 on a variety of conspiracy, trafficking and money laundering charges. In February 2013, Patel pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute contraband cigarettes, conspiracy to commit money laundering, trafficking in contraband cigarettes, promotional money laundering, concealment money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions involving more than $10,000 in criminal proceeds. Wednesday in District Court, Patel was sentenced to 84 months incarceration, 2 years of supervised released, and ordered to forfeit substantial assets, including cash, real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, and personal property.

“Anjay Patel and his co-conspirators bought and sold millions of dollars’ worth of contraband cigarettes in an attempt to avoid paying taxes,” United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. “In this sophisticated criminal operation, these defendants purchased untaxed cigarettes in Virginia and transported them to New York and other northeastern states for resale. In so doing, they deprived those states of substantial tax revenue. The extremely productive and skilled work of the ATF and other agents who pursued this case ensured that much of this tax money will be repaid and the defendants brought to justice.”

Updated April 14, 2015