Greene County Smoke Shop Clerk Detained by ICE for Underage Sale: Legal Ramifications Unfold

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In Tusculum, Tennessee, the local police department carried out a compliance check at a smoke shop, resulting in an employee being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for selling alcohol and a nicotine vape to a minor.

The Tusculum Police Department announced that officers conducted this “compliance operation” at X Factor Smoke and Vape, situated at 4765 East Andrew Johnson Highway, on the evening of December 4, around 6:37 p.m.

“The operation aimed to verify the shop’s compliance with state regulations prohibiting sales of alcoholic beverages and nicotine products to individuals under 21,” the department’s statement explained.

During the operation, an “underage male operative” was employed to test the shop’s adherence to the law. Prior to the visit, he was thoroughly searched to ensure he carried no contraband, apart from the funds required for the attempted purchase.

The release said that the operative entered the store at 6:40 p.m. while police surveilled outside of the establishment.

“Upon entering, the subject proceeded to the alcohol display area and selected a six-pack of Corona beer,” the release states. “He then approached the checkout counter, where he contacted the on-duty male clerk, later identified as Chiragkumar V. Patel.”

Police said the operative placed the beer on the counter and asked for a disposable nicotine vape. The release said Patel then asked what kind of vape he would like, to which the operative said he did not care.

The release said Patel then selected a “Geek Max Strawberry Orange Colada” vape, scanned it and completed the sale of the vape and the beer.

“At no point during this interaction did Mr. Patel ask the subject for identification, request his date of birth, or take any steps to verify that the subject was at least 21 years of age, as required by law,” the release states.

Investigators observed and documented the sale as part of the operation, and after the purchases were finalized, the items sold to the underage operative were collected as evidence, the release said.

“The operation confirmed that X Factor Smoke and Vape, through clerk Chiragkumar V. Patel, sold both alcoholic beverages and nicotine products to an individual under the legal age without conducting any form of age verification,” police stated in the release.

Police added that Patel reportedly indicated that he was not a United States citizen on a beer permit application, and police notified immigration officials. According to the release, an investigation determined that Patel had entered the United States illegally in 2013.

ICE agents later took Patel into custody at his place of business, and he was last being held in Louisiana while awaiting an immigration hearing, the release said.

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Greene County Smoke Shop Clerk Detained by ICE for Underage Sale: Legal Ramifications Unfold

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