Smuggling Case Ends With Plea Last Defendent Pleads Guilty In $45 Million Cigarette Smuggling Case

Sat., Sept. 28, 1996

Associated Press

The last of 23 defendants charged with participating in a $45 million cigarette smuggling operation in 1991 has pleaded guilty to a single count of racketeering.

Theodore Gord, 52, former proprietor of the Thunderbird Trading Post of Tacoma, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court. He promised to pay $500,000 in restitution. His sentencing was set for Dec. 13.

Gord’s smoke shop and several other operations were raided five years ago by state and federal investigators who said they cracked a cigarette smuggling operation between Indian reservations in Washington and Montana.

The raids resulted in a 1,179-count indictment against 23 people on charges that included money-laundering and illegal trafficking in untaxed cigarettes.

As a result of previous prosecutions in Montana, five defendants were convicted of racketeering charges and four defendants were convicted on smuggling charges. They have been sentenced to prison and forfeited $2.5 million, said Sherry Scheel Matteucci, U.S. Attorney for Montana.

The case also resulted in changes in Montana state law making it more difficult to purchase untaxed cigarettes.

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Smuggling Case Ends With Plea Last Defendent Pleads Guilty In $45 Million Cigarette Smuggling Case

Jesse Tinsley

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Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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