LANCASTER – A Lancaster man was sentenced this week to 3 years in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution for his role in a contraband cigarette trafficking ring that authorities said cheated the state out of more than $3 million in tax revenues.
Between 2002 and 2005, Daniel Araya, 43, distributed more than 1 million packs of cigarettes bearing counterfeit tax stamps. Some of the cigarettes were counterfeits that had been unlawfully smuggled into the United States from China, federal officials said.
Araya and other defendants evaded the California tax by affixing counterfeit tax stamps onto packs of cigarettes, which were then sold at smoke shops and other retail locations throughout the Southland. Araya was one of 13 people charged after a nearly three-year undercover probe, officials said.
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FORUM | 6 Comments
If you are not good at it get out. You get caught you pay the time with grace. The system has been there for too long you cant cheat and dont expect to get duped.
[Reply]
October 1st, 2008 at 4:00 PM
If Daniel Araya is a core supporter or member of the criminal group of tplf, he deserves even death penality..and we dont care if they hung him either…
However, if he is anti weyane activist or just a person that opposes and condemns the criminal activities of weyane…all I say is sorry eventough I dont support what he had been involved in….
Death to all members and supporters of weyane
[Reply]
October 1st, 2008 at 4:41 PM
You did the crime you pay the time,Dummy!
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:14 AM
I think Daniel’s crime is being cought, its amazing how we ethiopians like to pass judgment on to others real fast. How many of you have hipocrits like Mr Hagos above or are one yourself , all the things that we do when we work at various places with tempetation westoon le kess neww bedefenaw.
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 PM
Hagos,
Comments are not ment for these kinds of words. Please use your brain to come up with better thoughts.
Death will come to you first before TPLF and supporters of.
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:41 PM
HAGOS,
YES HE IS A CARD CARRYING MEMBER OF THE T.P.L.F
[Reply]
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 AM