St. Louis, MO – In a brazen case of cigarette trafficking, Mohammed Kayed, aka Mohammed Fayez, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for conspiring to traffic in contraband cigarettes.
According to court documents, Kayed and his co-conspirators, including Mohammed Almuttan, Rami Almuttan, Hisham Mutan, and Daddam Mutan, worked together for over two years to buy contraband cigarettes in St. Louis, Missouri, a low tax market, and transport and distribute them in New Jersey, a high tax market.
The group used several convenience stores, which they owned or operated, to create the appearance of legitimate cigarette purchases. The illegal profits from the contraband cigarette sales were laundered through accounts associated with the convenience stores. Kayed, a 22-year-old courier from Clifton, New Jersey, delivered the cigarettes from St. Louis to New Jersey.
Kayed pled guilty on March 6, 2018, to one felony count of conspiracy to traffic contraband cigarettes. He appeared today for sentencing in front of U.S. District Judge Ronnie White.
The investigation into this case was a joint effort between the Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Revenue, and Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
The sentence handed down to Kayed is a stark reminder of the consequences of engaging in cigarette trafficking. The group’s activities not only circumvented tax laws but also posed a threat to public health and safety.
Kayed’s sentencing is a significant victory for law enforcement agencies working to combat cigarette trafficking. The case serves as a warning to those involved in similar activities: the consequences of getting caught are severe and can result in lengthy prison sentences.
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Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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