Cigarette smuggling suspects under spotlight

A pair charged three times over the past three months with transporting cigarettes over state lines -- including twice in Somerset County -- is being touted as an example of why Maryland needs harsher penalties for smugglers. Stephon Leroy Wilkins, 49, and Chaniqua R. Rhodes, 40, both of Bronx, N.Y., were arrested twice on Route 13 in Princess Anne and a third time while traveling on Interstate 95 in Harford County. "This is a prime example of why we need stronger penalties for cigarette smuggling," Franchot said in a press release.

"Unfor-tunately, the minor penalties involved in this illegal activity cause some unscrupulous individuals to thumb their noses at state law." Both Interstate 95 and Route 13 are conduits for smugglers bringing cigarettes from Virginia where the state tax is a lot lower, said Caron Brace, a spokeswoman for Franchot's office. Smugglers can make a lot of money by reselling the cigarettes in states where the taxes are a lot higher, she said. Maryland residents are allowed to bring two packs of cigarettes over state lines and nonresidents are allowed one carton, while people in the military are allowed two cartons. But Brace said police and the Comptroller's Office aren't going after residents who may bring in more than the legal limit.

 "The people we're pulling over have thousands of packs in their cars," she said. Wilkins and Rhodes were first stopped on March 5 on Route 13 in Princess Anne by Maryland State Police on a traffic violation. From this stop, both were arrested and 5,800 packs of cigarettes worth $34,684 were seized. They were later released on unsecured bonds. On April 2, they were stopped again on Route 13 in Princess Anne on a traffic violation. Police seized 4,690 packs of cigarettes worth $28,046, and Wilkins and Rhodes were held on $10,000 bond. On June 4, they were stopped for a traffic violation while traveling north on Interstate 95 in Harford County. Police arrested the two and seized 3,950 packs of cigarettes worth $23,621.

This time, Rhodes was released on a $15,000 full bond and Wilkins was released on a $10,000 full bond. Currently, the crime of transporting cigarettes in Maryland is a felony, which carries a $50 per carton fine and/or two years imprisonment. The crime of possession of contraband cigarettes is a misdemeanor, carrying a $1,000 fine and/or imprisonment, not exceeding one year. Both defendants were charged with both of these crimes on all three occasions. Franchot has proposed a mandatory $150 per carton fine for the first offense and a mandatory $300 fine for subsequent offenses, as well as up to two years in prison for both crimes. "Cigarette smuggling is a lucrative operation for criminals due, in part, to the minor consequences they face if caught," Franchot said. "Penalties for this crime must be tougher in order to snuff out this public health and safety risk."