Editor’s Note: The plea bargain agreement is available here.
From: WECT via WSITV.com
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Atalla Atalla, also known as Tommy, pleaded guilty in November 2017 for his role in the year-long scheme, which included five other participants – three being law enforcement officers at the time. As part of his plea agreement, four other charges against Atalla were dismissed.
The scheme involved the illegal purchase of cigarettes and cigars by two Louisiana gas station employees to avoid paying taxes and to increase profits from retails sales in Wilmington and other states with higher tobacco taxes, according to court records. The three Louisiana law enforcement officers involved were bribed to protect and transport the contraband cigarettes to Wilmington.
