Local Tobacco Retailers in Monterey County Fined for Selling Flavored Tobacco and Other Unlawful Products

 

MONTEREY, California – Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced

on July 22 that 4 owners of local smoke shops and markets throughout Monterey County have paid

civil penalties for unlawfully selling flavored tobacco products, among other violations of law.

The sale of flavored tobacco products is prohibited in California. Tobacco contains nicotine which

is highly addictive and harmful to adolescent brain development. Flavored vapes are the most

widely used tobacco product among youth, and many tobacco users report that it is easy to purchase

flavored tobacco products. These products also tend to be marketed towards youth, with flavorings

such as “OMG Blow Pop,” “White Gummy Ice,” “Lemon Heasd” [sic], and “Peach Perfect Slush.”

Feras Hanna, the owner of King City Smoke, located at 560 Canal Street, Suite B, in King City, and

Soledad Smoke Shop, located at 3052 H Dela Rosa Street, in Soledad, were ordered to pay a total of

$30,435 in civil penalties and fees for selling flavored tobacco, as well as for failing to have

workers compensation insurance and for paying an employee under the table in violation of labor

laws.

Siram Inc., which operates a 7-Eleven franchise at 619 Main Street in Salinas, was ordered to pay

$2,935 in civil penalties and fees for selling flavored tobacco vapes.

Vi Duong, the owner and operator of Duong Family Investment, Inc., which does business as PDQ

Mini Mart at 2000 Del Monte Boulevard in Seaside, was ordered to pay $2,935 in civil penalties

and fees for selling flavored tobacco vapes.

Bhupinder Singh Nahal, the owner and operator of “Smoke Shop” located at 8055 San Miguel

Canyon Road in Prunedale, was ordered to pay $2,000 in civil penalties and fees for unlawfully

selling a flavored inhalable hemp product out of his tobacco shop.

The court also imposed injunctive terms prohibiting these facilities from violating these laws in the

future.

In 2024, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office obtained a grant to investigate and enforce

California’s tobacco laws. District Attorney Investigators have made and attempted to make

undercover purchases at 41 tobacco retail locations across the County. While 26 retailers were

found to be in compliance with tobacco laws, the remaining stores are facing enforcement actions or

have opted to close their business.

If you have any information on retailers that sell tobacco to minors or that sell unlawful flavored

tobacco products, you may contact the Consumer Protection Unit of the District Attorney’s Office

to make a complaint at (831) 647-7770 or by email at consumercomplaints@countyofmonterey.gov.