Counterfeit items, cartons of untaxed tobacco seized
A Cheektowaga man has been arrested for alleged possession of thousands of counterfeit items and numerous cartons of untaxed cigarettes and cigars, Buffalo police reported.
Peter Mesquito, 36, of Walden Avenue, is accused of being in possession of a large amount of bootleg sound and video recordings as well as the illegal tobacco and a shotgun.
In all, police seized more than 4,000 counterfeit CDs, 500 counterfeit videos, as well as 58 cartons of untaxed cigarettes and seven boxes of untaxed cigars.
The police raid occurred at the Things on the Spot store at 2154 Genesee St. on the city’s far east end.
Mesquito faces several charges, including felony possession of a shotgun due to a previous criminal conviction. He also faces additional charges relating to possessing the counterfeit materials and false tobacco tax documentation, police said.
Mesquito was held in the Erie County Holding Center late Tuesday.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Source: The Buffalo News