Woonsocket Police Bust Shops For Selling Cigarettes To Underaged Teens

Woonsocket Police have issued summons to clerks at CT Plus and the Cass Ave. Food Mart and the shops' owners for selling cigarettes to a minor during a sting operation last week.

On Jan. 17, officers working with undercover 17-year-olds checked several establishments in the city for compliance with RI General Law 11-9-13 prohibiting sale of tobacco products to minors. 

At about 6:15 p.m., under the supervision of Woonsocket police officers, a 17-year-old boy entered Cass Ave. Food Mart at 562 Cass Ave., and purchased a package of Marboro cigarettes for $8.40 using $20 in department funds, according to Lt. Edward Doura's report.

The 17-year-old informed police that the clerk had not asked him for identification, according to the report. Doura gave the clerk a summons for selling tobacco products to a minor, second offense, with a $500 fine, which the business owner, Jetty Cherian, was responsible to pay, or he and the clerk could appear in court to contest the charge Feb. 13. 

When contacted by phone, Cherian agreed to pay the fine, according to the report.

At about 6:30 p.m., a 17-year-old girl under the supervision of Woonsocket police entered CT Plus at 11 Hamlet Ave. and purchased a package of Newport cigarettes for $8.49 from the clerk, Toni Germanos, 36, also the owner of the store, according to the report. The girl reported he did not ask her for identification. 

Det. Adrien Robidoux issued a summons for selling tobacco products to a minor, second offense, which requires either paying a $500 fine or appearing in court to contest the charge Feb. 13.