Evan Mills Smoke Shop Owners Hit with $3.81M Fine for Youth Vape Sale

New York Attorney General Letitia James has won a landmark court order shutting down Evan Mills Smoke & Accessories, LLC, and Northwind26449, Inc., for illegal sale of flavored e-cigarettes in Jefferson County.

Evan Mills Smoke Shop owners Ayoub Alharbi and Sameer Mohamod-Hizan Yahia were fined $50,000 and banned from owning or operating any business that sells nicotine products. They also face a further penalty of $3.81 million if they violate the court order.

The AG’s office accused the shop owners of repeatedly violating state laws by selling flavored e-cigarettes and other misbranded drugs like kratom and nitrous oxide. The consent order secured permanently closes the smoke shop, requiring forfeiture of over 3,300 flavored nicotine vape products and other seized items.

Attorney General James emphasized the importance of protecting young people from the youth vaping epidemic, stating, ‘Smoke shop owners that are illegally selling candy-flavored vapes to young people are fueling the nationwide youth vaping epidemic.’

This action follows a series of efforts by Attorney General James to combat the youth nicotine epidemic. In recent years, her office has filed lawsuits against e-cigarette manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, secured substantial settlements, and regulated the sale of flavored vaping products.

The investigation was conducted by Assistant Attorneys General Julia Toce, Leanne Moser, and Deanna R. Nelson, with assistance from Investigators Chad Shelmidine, Andrea Buttenschon, and Lawrence Kalk.