CECIL COUNTY LIQUOR STORE OWNER PLEADS GUILTY IN SCHEME TO EVADE PAYMENT OF TAXES ON LIQUOR SMUGGLED INTO NEW YORK

Posted 09/30/2015

Dilip Patel, age 49, of Wilmington, Delaware pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, and agreed to pay restitution of $673,992 to the state of New York - the amount of excise tax loss, and forfeit $11,000 seized from a bank account that was the liquor store’s operating account.

According to the September 30, 2015 press release from the District of Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, Patel faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis has scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2016.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the HSI Baltimore, IRS - Criminal Investigation and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for their work in the investigation.

• A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
• Press inquiries to the U.S. Attorney's Office should be directed to AUSA Vickie E. Leduc or Marcia Murphy at 410-209-4885.