OXFORD – An Oxford business owner is facing felony charges of tax fraud following a 10-month investigation by the Syracuse-based New York State Department of Taxation and Criminal Investigation Division and the Oxford Police Department.
Glenn M. Keeney Jr., 51, McDonough, owner of the Just-A-Smoking tobacco shop, 8 Main St., was charged on Monday with third degree criminal tax fraud and attempting to evade or defeat taxes imposed on cigars and tobacco – both class E felonies – as well as two counts of transporting tobacco on which the taxes imposed had not been paid – a class A misdemeanor – and two counts of having in his possession over 10 pounds of tobacco or more than 500 cigars which the tax imposed had not been paid.
Keeney appeared in the Village of Oxford Court yesterday and was released on his own recognizance. The case will remain in the Town of Oxford Court, according to District Attorney Joseph McBride, and Keeney is scheduled to appear there at a later date.
The investigation, which began in June, involved both departments seizing more than 1,000 cigars and approximately 916 pounds of tobacco from Keeney’s tobacco shop. According to Oxford Police Chief Rich Nolan, invoices acquired through the investigation allegedly show the tobacco and cigars were ordered from Florida, Virginia and several online companies. New York State tax law states that – pursuant to Section 471-b[2] and [3] – “every dealer is liable for the tax on all tobacco products in his possession,” added Nolan.
The receipts allegedly revealed that no state tobacco products tax had been paid. The amount of the excise tax due and unpaid on the unlawfully imported tobacco products, said Nolan, amounted in thousands of dollars. No official total was released.
According to one source involved in the investigation, who wished to remain anonymous, Keeney will also be ordered to pay civil restitution if found guilty.