Seven Washington tribal members were charged with conspiracy, money laundering and other charges in what federal prosecutors said was a $7.4 million cigarette smuggling ring.

The leader of the ring is alleged to be Stormy V. Paul, a member of the Tulalip Tribes. Six other Indians who own smokeshops on the Puyallup Reservation were also charged.

Prosecutors say Paul arranged for cigarettes manufactured in China and Paraguay to be brought into Washington and sold at tribal smokeshops without paying state taxes. The state is estimated to have lost $3.3 million in taxes.

Get the Story:
Cigarette-smuggling charges filed (The Everett Herald 4/12)
7 are charged with smuggling cigarettes (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 4/12)
Tribal vendors charged with selling illegal cigarettes (The Tacoma News-Tribune 4/12)
Millions of tax dollars up in smoke (KING 5 News 4/11)
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Related Stories:
Retailers criticize state tobacco deal for Puyallup Tribe (03/11)
Washington tribes negotiating tobacco compacts (01/11)
Federal agents raid Washington smokeshops (06/09)