Case with Cobb Tie Is Over

The final defendant in an extensive tobacco trafficking ring that spanned across Cobb and several other counties has been sentenced, the office of Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens said Wednesday in a news release.

Shaukat Sayani received five years probation, with 11 months to be served under house arrest, bringing to a close a case that began 18 months ago.

On and shortly after Oct. 19, 2011, 50 people were arrested for violations of state law involving the illegal possession, sale and distribution of contraband cigarettes. Authorities alleged that they avoided the payment of state excise taxes on cigarettes by knowingly purchasing untaxed cigarettes which had counterfeit excise tax stamps. The ring was uncovered after a three-year investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Atlanta Field Division.

Twenty-two indictments or accusations that covered Cobb and other counties were handed down, Olens' office said in the news release.

Since the case began, more than 49 defendants have been sentenced and more than $1.3-million in unpaid tobacco taxes have been collected in connection with the ring. Sayani on Tuesday was ordered to pay $8,821 in restitution, Olens' office said in the news release.

“This successful prosecution is the result of a collaborative effort among local, state and federal law enforcement,” Olens said in the statement. “It sends a strong message that law enforcement in Georgia will work together to detect and prosecute those who cheat by not paying tobacco taxes. I applaud prosecutor Greg Lohmeier for his swift and aggressive prosecution of this complex case.”

Keep up with all the news you care about by subscribing to our free email newsletter, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.