Frank's Landing smokeshop owners agree to plea bargain

By Rob Carson | The News Tribune • Published July 04, 2008

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The owners of a Frank's Landing smokeshop raided by federal agents last year for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes ­will plead guilty to federal charges in exchange for a plea bargain, the owners' attorney said today.

"Hank and Allison Gottfriedson have entered into a plea agreement in principle, which is expected to be submitted to the court at a hearing next week," Steven Ungar, who is representing the Gottfriedsons, said Thursday.

The Gottfriedsons, owners of Frank's Landing Indian Discount Tobacco, were charged in U.S. District Court on June 30 with conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes and structuring currency transactions.

In a May 15, 2007, operation called "Operation Chainsmoker," the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raided the smokeshop, seizing nearly 11 million cigarettes and more than $1.3 million in cash.

In federal charging papers, the government asked that all of the cigarettes and money be forfeited, plus $209,000 seized from bank accounts and a 2007 Cadillac Escalade.

Ungar said he was not at liberty to reveal the terms of the plea bargain before it is filed in court.

For more information, see Friday's Olympian.