UPDATED: WESTLAKE, Ohio — A 44-year-old Westlake man is accused of selling untaxed Black & Mild, Swisher Sweets and White Owl cigars to convenience stores in the Cleveland area, after smuggling them from Pennsylvania.
Hashem Al-Hamid, a foreign national, is charged with trafficking in untaxed tobacco products, theft and possessing criminal tools.
He was arraigned today in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, where bond was set at $50,000.
Acting on a tip, Ohio Department of Taxation investigators observed Al-Hamid and sought a secret indictment, which they received last week, prosecutor's spokesman Ryan Miday said.
"It was believed he was dangerous and he would flee as he has no ties to community," Miday said.
Al-Hamid was arrested by a SWAT team Thursday at his Gershwin Drive home. Agents seized a white cargo van, a Mercedes-Benz sedan and a Chrysler 300.
In one of the car trunks, agents found illicit tobacco products, delivery invoices and $100,000 stashed in the spare tire compartment.
"We believe Al-Hamid ran a used-vehicle business, Amman Jeep Experts Auto Sales, which supposedly exported used vehicles overseas," Miday said.
It was also searched, and the investigation continues.
Al-Hamid is due back in court Wednesday.
