New York Attorney General Letitia James, in partnership with the New York State Department of Health (DOH), has filed a lawsuit targeting an Otsego County smoke shop, Royalty Tobacco, demanding its closure. The action also seeks to permanently prohibit the store's owners, Eysa Sharhan and Ahmed Mozeb, from vending vapor products within the state. Detailed in a statement from the Attorney General's Office, the lawsuit accuses Sharhan and Mozeb of habitually breaching New York’s public health laws by selling vapes to underage patrons and continuing the sale of banned flavored vapes.
"Despite repeated warnings, fines, and license revocations, these business owners have continued to ignore the law and endanger young New Yorkers’ health," said Attorney General James, running afoul with the law, putting young people at risk. This information yields from having twice established new shops after losing their license under different names, according to the Attorney General's Office. State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald underscored the health risks, particularly to adolescents, stating, "The widespread availability of e-cigarettes and vapor products poses significant public health challenges."
The origins of this legal action trace back to a multi-year investigation by DOH, which uncovered a series of illicit sales at locations ran by Sharhan and Mozeb in Oneonta. As per the Attorney General’s press release, Pop-In Smoke & Vape was the first to be sanctioned for selling flavored vapes and catering to underage clientele. Following license revocation in January 2023, Sharhan and Mozeb relaunched under the name Pufftopia, which met the same fate for illegally vending cannabis. Meanwhile, Royalty Tobacco made recent sales of flavored vapes despite state citations and multiple fines having been imposed on their previous establishments.
Reiterating the legal stance, the sale of flavored vapor products with nicotine is outlawed in New York, and sales to individuals under 21 are strictly barred. Obtained by the Attorney General's Office, these serial offenses have accumulated more than $195,000 in fines. The filed lawsuit aims to shut down Royalty Tobacco, ban Sharhan and Mozeb from the vape industry, and seek financial redress for the illicit sale of flavored nicotine products.
