Roll-your-own cigarette shop faces federal lawsuit
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DEWITT, N.Y. -- A roll-your-own tobacco house promising cheap cigarettes in the Syracuse area now faces a federal lawsuit.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says the state is suing Tobacco House CCW, Inc. on East Genesee Street in DeWitt.
Schneiderman says the business is violating state and federal laws and evading taxes by providing customers with the tobacco and the tools needed to roll their own cigarettes.
The lawsuit also cites New York's Cigarette Fire Safety Act, claiming that the cigarettes being sold may be hazardous.
Officials say this kind of practice can deprive the state of millions of dollars of revenue.
"They're cheating taxpayers. They're cheating taxpayers from the revenues that we generate from the taxes that are imposed upon tobacco in the state," Assistant Attorney General Ed Thompson said.
The state wants the business to stop selling cigarettes, as well was compensate the state for lost tax revenue.
The lawsuit comes just days after two businesses in Brooklyn and Staten Island were also sued on similar charges.