Medina man charged with tobacco tax crime (2023)
Ahmad Mohammad Al-Hawwari of Medina was charged with a felony count of possessing untaxed tobacco products. Revenue officials found over $6,000 in tobacco products for sale without applicable taxes paid at his East Side Tobacco Shop.
Al-Hawwari faced up to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The contraband tobacco was seized.
The case highlighted Minnesota's active enforcement of tobacco retail laws, including random inspections.
Tobacco retailers in Minnesota face regulatory scrutiny. A license lapse at Beyond Tobacco could be tied to compliance issues, though no enforcement action has been reported.
