Arrest over untaxed cigarettes not a sign of crackdown

The recent arrest of an Onondaga County woman does not reflect any policy of tighter enforcement of state tax laws on consumers of American Indian-owned businesses, a representative from the New York State Police said Friday.

However, state law does indicate that individuals are liable for unpaid taxes on products purchased at such locations, according to a spokesperson from a state retail organization.

When Gay Breed was charged Thursday with tax evasion for allegedly possessing five cartons of untaxed cigarettes, she was initially stopped for turning left at a red light. State Police Lt. Jim Greenwood said that is usually how these types of arrests are made.