CHICAGO — A South Chicago gas station clerk was arrested for allegedly selling cigarettes bought out-of-state, essentially skirting in-state taxes, police said.
Saer Gueye, of the 6000 block of South Harper Avenue, was charged with one count of possession of unstamped cigarettes under state law and one count of no cigarette tax stamp under Chicago ordinances.
Shortly after 1 a.m. Wednesday, police were investigating complaints of drug sales around when they spoke to someone who showed them a pack of cigarettes with an out-of-state tax stamp bought at a nearby Citgo gas station, 2941 E. 83rd St., according to a police statement.
At the station, police found multiple cigarette packages bearing Missouri tax stamps, and not those required to sell cigarettes in Illinois, Cook County or the city.
Next to the register, cops found $500 in cash in a tobacco box. After further investigation, cops found 59 packages of out-of-state cigarettes and more than $200,000.
Gueye is due in court at 727 E. 11th St. on March 31.
In Missouri, the cigarette tax is the lowest in the nation at 17 cents per standard pack.
In Chicago, the cigarette tax is $6.16 per pack.
