Woman faces charges of forgery and sale of cigarettes without N.J. tax stamps
Merysol Mendez-Reyes, 51 (Photo: Dept. of Public Safety) NEWARK -- The victim of a Newark carjacking turned out to be a suspect in an investigation that led authorities to seize two vehicles with a haul of counterfeit cigarette tax stamps and more than $18,000, authorities said Wednesday.
Merysol Mendez-Reyes, 51, of Newark, was arrested Sept. 20 after police responded to a reported carjacking and shots fired near Highland and Delavan avenues, according to the city's Department of Public Safety. A man told officers he ran from a carjacking while one of the attackers fired at him with a handgun.
Authorities said they identified Mendez-Reyes as a victim of the carjacking and detectives learned she was also suspected in a scam involving counterfeit cigarette tax stamps. Police did not disclose how they centered on Mendez-Reyes as a suspect in the alleged scheme.
City detectives alerted agents with the state Treasury Department and investigators served search warrants at an unspecified location.
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According to police, the search netted evidence, including 75,736 counterfeit New Jersey cigarette tax stamps worth about $204,487, more than 400 cartons of cigarettes with Virginia tax stamps or no stamps and 123 cartons of cigarettes with the phony New Jersey stamps valued at more than $47,000.
Investigators also seized cash, ledgers and tools used to remove and attach the tax stamps on cigarette boxes.
Mendez-Reyes was charged with seven counts related to having counterfeit stamps, contraband cigarettes, and distribution of the items.
In cigarette tax schemes, traffickers often purchase large amounts of cigarettes in Virginia and other states with lower taxes and sell them in New Jersey, which has a higher tax on cigarettes. Traffickers can also use fake New Jersey stamps to make the cigarettes appear legitimate.
"This type of incident, involving counterfeit cigarettes -- commonly known as loosies -- has the potential of creating an even greater quality of life issue for both the public and the police," Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement.
Ambrose credited the work of Newark police, Treasury Department officials, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agents. The original carjacking remains under investigation, he added.
Law enforcement officials have dubbed Interstate 95 as "Tobacco Road," for the known cigarette smuggling route that runs from the Carolinas to Maine.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.