From Newsday.com Wednesday, June 9, 2004

By HERBERT G. McCANN

Associated Press Writer

Man Sentenced for Smuggling Cuban Cigars

June 9, 2004, 4:13 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- A lawyer was sentenced Wednesday to more than three years in federal prison for smuggling thousands of fine Cuban cigars into this country and selling them for a fat profit.

Richard "Mick" Connors, 54, was also fined $60,000 and placed on three years' probation.

U.S. District Judge Ronald A. Guzman ordered Connors taken into custody immediately, despite a request that he be allowed to attend his daughter's wedding later this month. The judge said the former public defender is too familiar with ways to flee the country.

Connors was convicted in 2002 of smuggling, trading with the enemy, conspiracy and lying to a passport officer.

Witnesses testified that in the early 1990s Connors traveled to Cuba by way of Canada and Mexico almost monthly, bought cigars at $25 to $60 a box and sold them in the United States for up to $400 a box. He was arrested at the Canadian border in 1996 with 1,150 cigars.

U.S. citizens must have permission to visit Cuba. Authorized visitors may bring back $100 worth of goods including cigars for their own use but may not resell them in this country.

Connors plans to appeal, said his attorney, Jack Cutrone.

Many Cuban cigars are brought into the United States every year in small quantities by individuals who are not part of any smuggling rings.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press

Can I bring back $100 of cuban goods if I visit a different country as long as its for me?

ahhh just take the bands off when you do

It's like my date was saying the other day, seems a bit stiff?

never wooda happened if he wasn't greedy

You can smuggle dope across the border (or swindle thousands our of their retirement ie: Enron) and get a lighter sentence. I guess examples must be made of a few people to keep the masses in line.

I have a feeling we're going to hear a great big "D'OH!!!" from this guy in 12 to 24 months when Fidel kicks off, and Cubans are legal again.

As a lawyer he probably would have done better cashing in on the trademark battles that are going to go down with Partagas,Monticristo,Punch,La Gloria Cubana, etc, etc.

plabonte,

My understanding is that the only way to legally bring cubans over the border is only one box (preferably opened which shows you have smoked one) and you must have come from Cuba aka a business visitor or such.

I think if you buy them in Canada and get caught coming across the US border, even with just one box, you'll be in the crapper.

Cheers,

grond

You could put them in feminine applicators and hide them in a body cavity? How would you describe the undertones in that smoke?

Vagustos

Vagital overtones?

LOL at Robby...

John

A buddy of mine got caught with a fiver of ISOMs coming in from Mexico once, after a brief exchange, the customs inspector gave him a dirty look and put them back in his coat pocket (the leather coat he had declared) and sent him on his way. I think several of you overlooked the fact that this guy imported (smuggled) "thousands" of cigars, not a box or two! He was selling them at $400/box, and buying them at $25-30/box, can you say counterfeit? It was probably one of his own buyers that blew the whistle on him! You can't get ISOM Montes ANYWHERE for $25-30 box! This guy had a commercial operation going on. This is not necessarily an example of what the govt. will do if they catch you sneaking one or two boxes of ISOMs in from your vacation!

Thank you for your infusion of reality Clive. The guy was in it for a large profit. THAT is why he got jacked up. Period.

The sky is NOT falling, geez!

I agree with CWFoster, major counterfiet smuggling opereation at those prices. They should have prosecuted him for counterfieting on top of smuggling.

Barry

DAYAM! And I put all of my ISOMs down the garbage disposal for fear that the Jack booted thugs were ready to kick in my door!

You're right...he was a big time operator. If he was prosecuted under the "trading with the Enemy" act....then those weren't fake Cubans...they were real. But then again...he was buying them for $25 bucks a box....so they were fake Cuban's...then he shouldn't have been found guilty....but he went to Cuba to get them...so....they're real...I'm lost.

Anyhow...this guy got a pretty stiff sentence for a not so big crime.

No more ISOM's fer me, Im swtiching to Backwoods

I had a backwoods...once.

What about tax aviation?