Help me understand how this works

[PapaBear]

So, a local untaxed cigarette ring was just busted here yesterday. (http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2011/11/smoke-ring-busted.php)

Officials arrested 16 people Wednesday after a three-year investigation identified their connection to a cigarette trafficking ring reaching across at least four states, according to the United States Attorney's Office of the Western District of Virginia.
The defendants purchased more than $33 million in contraband cigarettes from undercover federal agents throughout that time, according to the office. They bought thousands of cartons of untaxed and taxed cigarettes from an undercover operation in the Western District of Virginia and distributed them in Virginia, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and New York, according to the office. My first question is, why does it take them three years to finally make the arrests? Second is, who gets the $33 million? I'm assuming most of it will go directly to the agencies involved. Also, assuming there will be a large sum of seized assets, will that also go to the agencies? Third question... Since the "victims" are the state and local governments who never got to collect the taxes on these smokes, will they ever see any of those lost funds from an operation that took three years to lock down?

This sounds to me like a Federal scam to make millions, at the expense of state and local funding. Does anyone here have any better information on how shit like this gets divided in the end?

[A.J.]

Dammit! Who knew cheap smokes were so close!

[StanUpshaw]

So, a local untaxed cigarette ring was just busted here yesterday. (http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2011/11/smoke-ring-busted.php)

My first question is, why does it take them three years to finally make the arrests? Second is, who gets the $33 million? I'm assuming most of it will go directly to the agencies involved. Also, assuming there will be a large sum of seized assets, will that also go to the agencies? Third question... Since the "victims" are the state and local governments who never got to collect the taxes on these smokes, will they ever see any of those lost funds from an operation that took three years to lock down?

This sounds to me like a Federal scam to make millions, at the expense of state and local funding. Does anyone here have any better information on how shit like this gets divided in the end?

Aren't those estimates always overblown "street value" type figures? Like they have a drug bust and they say they seized $10 mil in coke, but only if it was broke up and sold by the gram.

It's probably the same with this. Their number is probably based on NYC per pack cost.

And if "cigarette rings" are anything like "terror cells," the "federal agents" were probably just paid informants.

[Dude!]

PB is the worst thread-starter
in RF.net history

[disneyspy]

PB is the worst thread-starter
in RF.net history

did you see todays listening thread? i think PB kicks sailors ass

[spoon]

did you see todays listening thread? i think PB kicks sailors ass

yah bc that's tough stuff

step 1) hit new thread in listening thread forum
step 2) type gay daily listening thread title
step 3) submit


OOooooo, did he forget the 15 links and gay pic/vid to start!? Innterobang yourself in your wrinkly grey face dtub! There are much better things to rip Sailor for you motor city shit stain.

:bye:

[PapaBear]

Aren't those estimates always overblown "street value" type figures?
They paid the feds $33 million. It's not an estimate. The cartons actually were taxed. They had VA tax stamps. They were being sold in PA and NYC with the VA stamps. The VA tax is ten times lower than the NYC stamp, so they made a shit load of money by buying them here, and selling them there.

[PapaBear]

And if "cigarette rings" are anything like "terror cells," the "federal agents" were probably just paid informants.
They weren't informants. They were ATF agents.

[spoon]

stop with the FACTSSSSS!

[StanUpshaw]

Seriously. It looks like you've got this one all figured out, Kojak.

[PapaBear]

Seriously. It looks like you've got this one all figured out, Kojak.
No don't! I want to know where the money will go!

[sailor]

No don't! I want to know where the money will go!

Evidence?

Or not:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100521170740AA2XF40

[Snoogans]

So, a local untaxed cigarette ring was just busted here yesterday. (http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2011/11/smoke-ring-busted.php)

My first question is, why does it take them three years to finally make the arrests? Second is, who gets the $33 million? I'm assuming most of it will go directly to the agencies involved. Also, assuming there will be a large sum of seized assets, will that also go to the agencies? Third question... Since the "victims" are the state and local governments who never got to collect the taxes on these smokes, will they ever see any of those lost funds from an operation that took three years to lock down?

This sounds to me like a Federal scam to make millions, at the expense of state and local funding. Does anyone here have any better information on how shit like this gets divided in the end?

the money will go into a fund that they will use to hide the fact they are letting drugs into the country in the first place, and also pay to make 3 new bombs

[disneyspy]

yah bc that's tough stuff

step 1) hit new thread in listening thread forum
step 2) type gay daily listening thread title
step 3) submit


OOooooo, did he forget the 15 links and gay pic/vid to start!? Innterobang yourself in your wrinkly grey face dtub! There are much better things to rip Sailor for you motor city shit stain.

:bye:

i must be in a good mood cuz this has me giggling