Wichita Attorney Najim Pleads Guilty in $8M Cigarette Smuggling Scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A hard-hitting federal investigation has led to the conviction of Harry Najim, a Wichita attorney, and four others for their roles in a massive cigarette trafficking scheme that saw over $8 million in state tax revenue siphoned off from New York State.

The multi-million dollar scheme involved the transportation of hundreds of thousands of cartons of contraband cigarettes from Kansas City to New York, where they were sold primarily on Indian reservations without paying the required taxes. Najim, 67, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes for failing to file a Form 8300 related to his representation of an undercover federal agent involved in the scheme.

Najim was employed by the Adams Jones Law Firm and admitted that he provided legal services to the undercover ATF agent from March 2011 through January 2012, accepting $16,500 for his services. Despite knowing the firm’s obligation to report transactions over $10,000 to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Najim failed to do so.

William F. Parry, 54, of Irving, N.Y., pleaded guilty to contraband cigarette trafficking. Philip Christ, 55, of Hamburg, N.Y., admitted to participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and contraband cigarette trafficking. Nicole Sheffler, 37, of Independence, Mo., and Gholamreza “Reza” Tadaiyon, 51, of Weston, Fla., also pleaded guilty for their respective roles in the conspiracy.

Craig Sheffler, 45, of Independence, Mo., who was previously sentenced for his part in the scheme, admitted making regular purchases of contraband cigarettes from ATF agents. The untaxed cigarettes were then transported to New York without prior approval and sold at a discount on reservations, costing the state millions in tax revenue.

This operation is another stark reminder of the reach and impact of organized crime in the United States, and the importance of stringent law enforcement efforts to combat such activities.