United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

OWNER OF VALLEY TOBACCO STORES PLEADS GUILTY TO FILING FALSE TAX RETURN

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHAFIQUIL ISLAM, age 44, of 113 Derby Avenue, Seymour, Connecticut, waived indictment and pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to one count of filing a false income tax return for the tax year ending December 31, 1998. ISLAM, who at the time of the offense owned and operated Sam's Smoke Shop in Oxford and NS Smoke in Derby, admitted during the court proceeding that during 1997 and 1998 he understated his business income from these businesses on his tax returns by a total of $253,636, resulting in a tax loss to the Government of $63,021 for the two years.

"This case is an example of our continuing efforts to ensure compliance with our tax laws," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "We will vigorously prosecute those who unfairly add to the burden of compliant taxpayers by attempting to avoid paying their own fair share of taxes."

ISLAM faces a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill on June 17, 2004.

The case was investigated by special agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter A. Clark.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov