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BUFFALO — Ian Tarbell, 44, of Hogansburg, pleaded guilty to possession of contraband cigarettes before U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, Jr., who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was arrested on Feb. 18 in Pembroke, following a traffic stop by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Tarbell was driving a truck that was pulling a trailer loaded with untaxed and unstamped cigarettes. In total, the defendant was transporting more than 900,000 unstamped and untaxed cigarettes.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 23.