Monroe County Sheriff’s Office cracks down on illegal tobacco sales to minors
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says it arrested multiple people following a series of compliance checks across local convenience stores.
FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says it arrested multiple people following a series of compliance checks across local convenience stores.
According to a sheriff’s office Facebook post, the Investigations Division responded to public complaints about the sale of vapes and tobacco products to minors, leading to a six-month investigation into area stores. The investigation revealed multiple stores failed to verify the age of purchasers, selling vapes and tobacco products to people under the age of 21—the legal purchasing age in Georgia.
“All individuals that did sell these products have been charged and the store owners have been made aware of this,” the post stated.
The sheriff’s office did not reveal the names of those arrested. We have reached out for more information, but Monroe County Jail records show nine people were booked on Tuesday, October 31 and charged with possession/sales of tobacco to minors:
- Patricia Davis of Forsyth
- Chaundhari Girishkumar of Jackson
- Breerika Hicks of Forsyth
- Govindkumar Patel of Locust Grove
- Maunal Patel of Hampton
- Raginiben Patel of Forsyth
- Shital Patel of Stockbridge
- Jessica Rucker of Jackson
- Khayyum Sayyad of Silver Bluff, South Carolina
“We will continue to be vigilant and continue with these random checks,” the post concluded.
