New York Attorney General Letitia James has scored a major victory against the illegal sale of flavored e-cigarettes, securing a court order to permanently shut down Evan Mills Smoke & Accessories, LLC (Evan Mills Smoke Shop), a Jefferson County vape shop.
The store, operated by Ayoub Alharbi and Sameer Mohamod-Hizan Yahia, was repeatedly cited for violating state laws by selling flavored e-cigarettes and other misbranded drugs, including kratom and nitrous oxide. The court order not only shuts down the shop but also fines the owners $50,000 with a potential penalty of $3.81 million if they violate the consent order.
‘Smoke shop owners that are illegally selling candy-flavored vapes to young people are fueling the nationwide youth vaping epidemic,’ said Attorney General James. ‘This consent order holds the owners accountable and keeps them out of business for good to protect our youth.’
The order also requires the forfeiture of over 3,300 flavored nicotine vape products and other illegal substances. This victory is a significant step in Attorney General James’ ongoing battle against the youth nicotine epidemic and the sale of misbranded drugs.
Attorney General James has been relentless in her pursuit of those who endanger public health, having recently filed lawsuits against e-cigarette manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for their role in fueling the youth vaping epidemic. This action is part of a broader effort to regulate and crack down on illegal flavored vaping products across New York State.
This case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Julia Toce, Assistant Attorney General Leanne Moser, and Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Watertown Regional Office Deanna R. Nelson. The investigation was conducted by Investigators Chad Shelmidine, Andrea Buttenschon, and Lawrence Kalk.
RELATED: Evan Mills Smoke Shop Owners Hit with $3.81M Fine for Youth Vape Sale
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: NY AG
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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