Already immersed in liquor-license troubles, a West Chester Township couple has been hit with felony charges of illegal cigarette and tobacco sales at their Hamilton convenience store.

        Osama and Rose Nassar were arrested on the cigarette charges Wednesday during a liquor-permit hearing in Hamilton City Council chambers. They are free on their promise to appear next Wednesday in Hamilton Municipal Court.

        Mr. Nassar, 39, faces eight charges — half felonies, half misdemeanors. His wife, 30, faces five felonies, all involving alleged illegal sale and possession of untaxed tobacco products.

        Neither the Nassars nor their attorney, John Reble, could be reached for comment Thursday.

        The Nassars, who own the U.S. Mini Mart at 100 Pershing Ave., are accused of selling cigarettes without paying the state-mandated Ohio taxes on them. Investigators found 165 packs of cigarettes and four packs of chewing tobacco bearing Kentucky tax stamps “with no evidence of Ohio tax having been paid,” Hamilton police said.

        Ohio requires a 24-cent tax for each pack of 20 cigarettes, while Kentucky charges just 3 cents. The 21-cent-per-pack difference — plus lower per-pack prices in Kentucky — enabled the Hamilton store to sell one brand of smokes for $2.75 while competitors charged $3.50, said City Councilman Richard Holzberger.

        Mr. Holzberger said the alleged violations continued despite warnings to the couple. “They flagrantly disregarded our advice,” he said, “to make a buck.”

        The Mini Mart has been a source of complaints: unruly crowds, gunshots, alleged drug dealing, open containers and “people using the area as a public restroom but without restroom facilities,” Mr. Holzberger said.

        Mr. Holzberger said he was a primary witness against the Nassars in Wednesday's proceeding, in which the city opposed the couple's requested liquor permit transfer from the store's previous owners.

Bands win this battle - they march
Polarization affected council vote
Cigarette scheme alleged
CPS plan details coming soon
Man who died on hood of car identified
Mother sought in grab of son
Mural celebrates communities
Neighborhoods will be buzzing
New facility a 'blessing'
Panel: Planning lacks oversight
Pellets hit buses; kids hurt
Police watchdog quits post
Tristate A.M. Report
RADEL: Strong mayor
HOWARD: Some Good News
WELLS: The Luken plan
Hamilton students join their peers across nation in song
MU speakers oppose war
Pancake feast today in Mason
Toddlers rescued from fire
Audit faults prison spending
Byrd defense suffers setback
Former worker at boot camp faces sex-assault charges
Ohio could collect car-lease tax up front
Old-growth forest may be mined
Fair aims to link volunteers, agencies
Fuel spilt into river
Ky. event honors crews of Sept. 11
Man still in jail in drug case