8 times • MAY 26, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com Public garden continues to grow thanks to devoted Ridgewood resident 900,000 illegal cigarettes seized in Queens tax scheme, DA says BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Two men from Maspeth and Middle Village face serious jail time for having more than 900,000 illegal cigarettes in their possession, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced. Brown identified the defendants as Ling F. Shi, 27, of 52nd Road in Maspeth, and He M. Wang, 46, of Dry Harbor Road in Middle Village. According to Brown, police executed a court-ordered search warrant on Monday, May 16, on a house located at 90-47 51st Ave. in Elmhurst where they allegedly found more than 3,594 cartons of cigarettes, containing more than 700,000 individual cigarettes, in the basement. Another courtauthorized search warrant issued for a 2015 Honda registered to Shi allegedly uncovered roughly 150 cartons that contained more than 30,000 individual cigarettes, along with receipts for two storage units at the Stop and Stor facility at 74-04 Grand Ave. A third court-authorized search warrant found 62 cartons containing 12,400 individual cigarettes from one storage bin and another 1,094 cartons containing 218,800 from the second bin. None of the cigarettes seized from the house, car or storage facility were in packs that had a New York State cigarette tax stamp. “The illegal sale of untaxed cigarettes is a million-dollar industry — a business venture that cheats the city and state out of much-needed revenue. Schemes like the one alleged here mean every taxpayer must dig deeper to pay higher taxes,” Brown said. “Each stamp on a legal pack of cigarettes represents both excise and sales tax that would have been paid to both New York State and New York City. The cigarettes allegedly seized in this case did not have the proper tax stamp.” Shi and Wang were both arraigned on Tuesday, May 17, before Queens Criminal Court Judge Althea Drysdale and charged with violating the state’s cigarette and tobacco products tax law and fifth-degree conspiracy. Both defendants were released on their own recognizance. They are due to return to court on June 7, 2016. If convicted, the defendants face up to seven years in prison. BY ANTHONY GIUDICE [email protected] @A_GiudiceReport Since Ridgewood resident George Negoescu began working on his garden at the corner of Shaler Avenue and Cypress Hills Street nearly eight months ago, he’s become somewhat a neighborhood icon. The Ridgewood Times originally profiled Negoescu in November 2015, highlighting the incredible work he had done transforming an old dumping ground on the Ridgewood/Glendale border into a beautiful community garden. People saw the story and commented on it, sending their thanks to Negoescu for beautifying the area, saying how much they love the garden and that they frequently visit the area while walking around town. Since the first story was published, Negoescu has continued working on the garden, adding in more paved bricks, four benches to allow passersby to sit and relax for a minute as they travel through Ridgewood and Glendale, more flowers and potted plants and even garden sculptures. Negoescu can still be seen from time to time on the corner working on his garden. Ranking Member of the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee Please join me this Memorial Day in taking the time to remember and pray for all those who gave their lives fighting for our freedom and our country. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. New York State Senator District 15 District Offices 159-53 102nd Street Howard Beach, NY 11414 TEL: (718) 738-1111 FAX: (718) 322-5760 66-85 73rd Place Middle Village, NY 11379 TEL: (718) 497-1630 FAX: (718) 497-1761 DENTAL CARE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY Santa LoCascio, D.D.S.,P.C. PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL & PERSONALIZED CARE $99 $99 Like Us On Facebook Our Complete Dental Cleaning (Includes X-ray, Exam & Cleaning) Any Filling, Extraction or Emergency Visit WE ALSO ACCEPT MOST INSURANCES! 70-16 FRESH POND RD., RIDGEWOOD, NEW YORK 718-628-6588 RIDGEWOOD TIMES/Photo by Anthony Giudice New benches at the Shaler Avenue garden.
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