Tax Department Investigators were tipped off by a Pennsylvania law enforcement official that Yeamans was observed purchasing the cigarettes in bulk at two large retail establishments in North Carolina and loading them into his New York State registered vehicle. Upon his arrival in New York, Yeamans was observed carrying the cigarettes into the Richmond Hill store, where a retail inspection resulted in the seizure of 77 cartons of illegal cigarettes. During a search Thursday, an additional 76 cartons were seized from Yeamans car, which was also confiscated. Pennsylvania Treasury Department Investigators were in North Carolina as part of an anti-bootlegging effort. Yeamans, is scheduled to be arraigned late Thursday in Queens County Court and faces up to four years in prison on each count if convicted.
All charges are accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.