From: NorthJersey.com
BY KRISTIE CATTAFI
Community News (Garfield Edition)
STAFF WRITER
A Garfield man was arrested for distribution of counterfeit New Jersey tax stamped cigarettes and possession of counterfeit New Jersey tax stamped cigarettes on March 30.
Piotr Ligmanowski, 35, was arrested as a result of a two-month long investigation by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office’s White Collar Crime Unit under the direction of Chief Steven Cucciniello, the Garfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kevin Amos, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent In Charge Matthew Horace, and the New Jersey Department of Treasury Division of Taxation Office of Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent In Charge Charles Giblin.
Members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, White Collar Crime Unit developed information regarding the illegal sale of cigarettes bearing a counterfeit State of New Jersey tax stamp. Ligmanowski was found in possession of 59 cartons of cigarettes bearing a counterfeit New Jersey tax stamp. As a result a search warrant was executed at his residence located on Chestnut Street in Garfield, resulting in numerous other cartons from various domestic states being seized as well as a sum of money.
Ligmanowski was taken into custody in a parking lot at a retail store located in Garfield. The sale of these counterfeit cigarettes represents a loss in tax revenue for the State of New Jersey.
Ligmanowski was charged with distribution of counterfeit New Jersey tax stamped cigarettes, possession of counterfeit New Jersey tax stamped cigarettes, both crimes of the third degree. Ligmanowski was arrested and sent to Bergen County jail with bail set at $50,000 with no 10-percent option.
