| November 25, 2022 For Immediate Release | Office of Congressional and Public Affairs 202-453-2180 |
Dominican Man Sentenced To 18 Months’ Imprisonment for Evading Tobacco Excise Taxes
FY—23—1
On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, Jose Dominguez, age 58, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to evade federal excise taxes on imported large cigars.
Dominguez previously admitted that he conspired to evade the excise taxes imposed on the importation of Victor Sinclair manufactured cigars from 2009 to 2012. Dominguez’s co-conspirators included his U.S. importers, Donna Venturini and Hope Carbone, both of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. During the conspiracy, Dominguez, Venturini, and Carbone collected approximately $3.9 million in excise taxes from U.S. purchasers of Victor Sinclair manufactured cigars. By using fraudulent invoices, the co-conspirators paid only approximately $2.1 million to the government, unlawfully retaining approximately $1.8 million for themselves. As part of his sentence, Dominguez was ordered to pay restitution.
The full press release on Dominguez’s sentencing can be found here on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Page last updated: November 28, 2022
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