Jump to full article: Hamilton (Ont) Spectator (ca), 2009-09-04
Author: Steve Buist The Hamilton Spectator
Intro: Two of the founding partners of Six Nations cigarette maker Grand River Enterprises are facing 16 charges related to trafficking of contraband cigarettes in the United States.
A U.S. grand jury in the state of Washington has indicted Ken Hill of Ohsweken and Peter Montour of Hamilton, alleging they were part of a conspiracy to supply tens of millions of contraband cigarettes over a five-year period to a smoke shop on native land just north of Seattle.
Hill and Montour are facing 15 counts of trafficking in contraband cigarettes and one count of conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes.
Each count carries a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, as well as the possibility of a fine.
The U.S. district attorney is also seeking a forfeiture order of nearly $5 million US, which represents allegedly unpaid cigarette taxes.
Also charged in the conspiracy is a U.S. company called Native Wholesale Supply and its owner, Art Montour Jr. (no relation), a former band councillor on the Seneca tribe's reservation south of Buffalo.
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