State Supreme Court Judge Kenneth Fisher issued a written decision on Tuesday supporting Cayuga and Seneca counties' right to pursue a felony tax evasion investigation against the Cayuga Nation.
In the ruling, Fisher said that the nation's two Lake Side Trading stores located in Seneca Falls and Union Springs are not on a recognized reservation and must therefore follow all tax laws established by the state.
Nearly 3.5 million untaxed cigarettes were seized during a joint raid on the two businesses by Seneca and Cayuga county sheriff's deputies on Nov. 25.
The tribe, along with other American Indian nations in New York, have claimed a total exemption to sales taxes because they believe their businesses are protected by sovereign nation status.
The judge also rejected the Cayuga Nation's request that the sheriffs' offices return the seized evidence.
Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Citizen.
Nearly 3.5 million untaxed cigarettes were seized during a joint raid on the two businesses by Seneca and Cayuga county sheriff's deputies on Nov. 25.
The tribe, along with other American Indian nations in New York, have claimed a total exemption to sales taxes because they believe their businesses are protected by sovereign nation status.
The judge also rejected the Cayuga Nation's request that the sheriffs' offices return the seized evidence.
Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Citizen.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 6 comment(s)
dan w wrote on Dec 10, 2008 12:48 AM:
blueyankee443 wrote on Dec 10, 2008 12:09 AM:
cement agencies have to prove they are
acting in the interest of others.They a
re taking on the role of Big Brother.Th
ere is no sense of only taking the ciga
rettes,and leaving the gas issue behind
.Maybe too many off-duty police fuel th
eir family vehicles,and need some-place
to do it cheaply.Its strange that they
pick on only one illegal sales,and not
the other one. Then they accuse us,of
not getting things right the first time
. We should expect Obama to drive thro
ugh soon or maybe Caroline Kennedy,as
we cant expect Hillary to do so. "
War Eagle wrote on Dec 9, 2008 8:52 PM:
Why just the smokes and not the gas? It looks like a case of harrasment to me.
Can the citizen post a link to the actual treaty? I would love to read it and wonder if Mr Budelmann or Mr Gould have? "
scouty wrote on Dec 9, 2008 7:12 PM:
nature lover wrote on Dec 9, 2008 6:25 PM:
Go Budelmann.... "
bear wrote on Dec 9, 2008 6:09 PM: