Bronx prosecutors say 20 people have been indicted in connection with a cigarette smuggling ring that allegedly evaded nearly $3 million in taxes.
Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson says Thursday the suspects face enterprise corruption, tax fraud and money laundering charges.
Prosecutors say the man who ran the operation would have cigarettes come in from Virginia and then resell them to small stores in New York City.
Authorities allege he managed shoppers who would purchase the cigarettes and then drive them to a storage facility in the Bronx.
They say the operation brought more than 44,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes to New York in a five-month period.
Investigators also seized more than $100,000 during a raid.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
