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.

Comments

Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

A fatal multi-vehicle collision happened on Saturday night, January 10 at 9:51 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 outside of King City. According to the King City CHP a 2016 Toyota Tacoma driven by 65-year-old Paul Lee Cooper of Otis, Oregon was heading the wrong way going southbound in the northbound lanes south of Jolon Road, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 33-year-old Dinora Maribel Gomez of Salinas was heading northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road in the #1 lane and a Honda Accord driven by 36-year-old Ignacio Sangerman of King City was also traveling northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road but was in the #2 lane. Due to Cooper's level of impairment his vehicle went the wrong way on Highway 101 going directly into the path of Gomez' vehicle causing the rear of her car to crash with the front of the vehicle driven by Sangerman. Cooper was arrested, sustaining major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where as of January 12 is...

Monterey County DA Releases Preliminary Information Concerning an Officer Involved Shooting Incident that Occurred Outside of Soledad on December 16

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni on December 19 released preliminary information concerning the officer involved shooting (OIS) which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. outside the city of Soledad on December 16, 2025. Just before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Pina, who has been a peace officer for 10 years all with MCSO, and Deputy Blain Councilman, each in separate patrol cars, were dispatched to 32097 McCoy Road. A resident at the farm labor camp reported a suspicious individual with a handgun whose white Honda 4 door sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking there, the suspect drove around and around, stopped in front of the reporting party’s (RP’s) truck, and got out. The RP could hear music. Deputy Pina drove the lead patrol car and arrived just after 1:20 a.m. His dashcam video, which does not record sound but which he installed on his own and at his own expense, depicts the following: He drove down ...

King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

January 7, 2025-Following an extensive recruitment process, José Arreola has been selected by the King City City Council to be its next City Manager. Arreola will replace Steve Adams, who is retiring after serving in the position for the past 10 years. Arreola was selected from 31 applicants and 8 finalists for the position. The King City City Council will formally consider the proposed city manager contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, January 13. Arreola's first day on the job is scheduled to be February 23. José Arreola has a distinguished career of serving the community with a particular commitment to youth. He has worked for the City of Salinas for 12 years as their Community Safety Program Manager, Community Safety Administrator and Assistant to the City Manager. Among other responsibilities, Arreola has led several programs to eliminate gang violence which aligns well with the City of King’s efforts and priorities. Prior to that, Arreola worked as an Educa...

KRKC COUNTRY

Search This Blog