Cuban cigars in the USA

[smokeyjoe01]

Hello fellow smokers. I just read that an American citizen buying and possessing post-embargo Havana cigars in the USA is potentially at risk of a $250,000 fine and 10 years incarceration. That seems an extremely high price for a smoke, even one as fine as a Havana! Do any of our American brethren have experience of these harsh penalties?

[jerrybrowne]

Hi, I'm not sure where you read that but it's not accurate.  Here is what the US government agency responsible for enforcement of this issue has to say-

taken from https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_new.pdf;

[JoeyBones777]

Those are the most harsh penalties allowed by law but to my recollection they have rarely, if ever, happened.

[luv2fly]

It is perfectly legal to bring Cuban cigars and Rum into the US when traveling abroad.  100 cigars duty free and I am not sure about the liquor but would imagine it is the same limit as any other spirit.

Of course things can change but they are still in place for now.

[SCgarman]

3 hours ago, smokeyjoe01 said:

Hello fellow smokers. I just read that an American citizen buying and possessing post-embargo Havana cigars in the USA is potentially at risk of a $250,000 fine and 10 years incarceration. That seems an extremely high price for a smoke, even one as fine as a Havana! Do any of our American brethren have experience of these harsh penalties?

Nope. My government has much bigger priorities than contraband cigars. Never have heard such a prosecution in over 30 years of cigar smoking.

[hedgeybaby]

8 minutes ago, NYgarman said:

Nope. My government has much bigger priorities than contraband cigars. Never have heard such a prosecution in over 30 years of cigar smoking.

The problem with Governments though, is that when they do have bigger, more important priorities. They often focus on the small, insignificant problems.

[Notsocleaver]

They came down hard on a lawyer who smuggled and resold massive amounts of Cuban cigars a while back, but that was before Obama eased the restrictions of the embargo and I think his revenue was in the millions. Something to consider if you are looking for a side gig flipping cigars I guess.

[Derboesekoenig]

https://abovethelaw.com/2012/08/this-illinois-attorney-could-lose-his-law-license-for-smuggling-cuban-cigars/

37 months in prison and $60k fine. He was a public defender, who had already had this license suspended once for misappropriating client finds. 

[cigcars]

      ** What's the date of that article you read that in, SmokeyJoe? Those kinds of penalties abounded in the 1990's, but with the (for the time being under the previous President) moderate relaxation of the embargo on Cuba those types of penalties and so on all but disappeared. There may have been some confiscations in the mail and over seas delivery systems of some Cuban cigars, but those real harsh penalties of ten years, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines...

[cigcars]

10 minutes ago, Derboesekoenig said:

https://abovethelaw.com/2012/08/this-illinois-attorney-could-lose-his-law-license-for-smuggling-cuban-cigars/

37 months in prison and $60k fine. He was a public defender, who had already had this license suspended once for misappropriating client finds. 

    *That article's date is Aug. 2012, and this attorney was in action for less than reputable actions dating back to 2002.

[smokeyjoe01]

Thanks for the replies guys. I read it in this:



1st edition is from 1990s

[hedgeybaby]

Richard Steven Connors, Skokie, was disbarred. He was found guilty in federal court of conspiring to smuggle Cuban cigars into the United States, smuggling goods into the United States, violating the Trading with the Enemy Act and related regulations, and making false statements on a passport application. He was sentenced to a 37-month prison term, fined $60,000, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $650.

[hedgeybaby]

Just now, hedgeybaby said:

Richard Steven Connors, Skokie, was disbarred. He was found guilty in federal court of conspiring to smuggle Cuban cigars into the United States, smuggling goods into the United States, violating the Trading with the Enemy Act and related regulations, and making false statements on a passport application. He was sentenced to a 37-month prison term, fined $60,000, and ordered to pay a special assessment of $650.

^^His ex wife grassed him up!!

[luckme10]

I'm sure it didn't help that he was a public servant.

“I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” 5 U.S.C. §3331
 

[raidercraig]

1 hour ago, luckme10 said:

I'm sure it didn't help that he was a public servant.

“I, [name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” 5 U.S.C. §3331
 

Ironically the US  Constitution was written to restrict the governments actions  rather than the actions of its  citizens.

 

[hedgeybaby]

30 minutes ago, raidercraig said:

Ironically the US  Constitution was written the restrict the governments actions  rather than the actions of its  citizens.

 

Indeed.

One of the finest acts of legislation, now seen as a relic by some and a burden by others.

[dominattorney]

3 hours ago, Notsocleaver said:

They came down hard on a lawyer who smuggled and resold massive amounts of Cuban cigars a while back, but that was before Obama eased the restrictions of the embargo and I think his revenue was in the millions. Something to consider if you are looking for a side gig flipping cigars I guess.

I seem to recall (and it was not me, btw, that was that attorney) that the person in question was targeted more due to the volume he was importing, and the fact that they were being resold rather than consumed by him.  Anyway, I don't buy Cuban cigars.  I'm a member of some club wazza-whatever, though.  On an unrelated note, sometimes cigars show up at my house.  I've never questioned their origin. 

[Derboesekoenig]

Reselling Cuban cigars is just not worth the hassle. Just enjoy them please. Putting together samplers or dropping a box or two is one thing, but $1mil worth? Jesus man

[luv2fly]

Let us welcome the gov boys and girls to this thread.  

[Jimmy_jack]

I feel like this is a setup

[luv2fly]

Lock clock is started.....

[soonerwings]

Government servant in before the lock.


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[SigmundChurchill]

I got a letter from Homeland Security back around 2006.  There were no confiscations, but they knew exactly which cigars I bought and how much I paid.  They threatened to fine me the price of the cigars.  I sent them a reply, and they sent me a reply back.  This went on for a couple of years until finally I got a letter saying they were going to drop it, and basically telling me not to do it again.  

[Derboesekoenig]

4 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

I got a letter from Homeland Security back around 2006.  There were no confiscations, but they knew exactly which cigars I bought and how much I paid.  They threatened to fine me the price of the cigars.  I sent them a reply, and they sent me a reply back.  This went on for a couple of years until finally I got a letter saying they were going to drop it, and basically telling me not to do it again.  

YEARS?? Wow. I'm surprised they let it draw on that long

[SigmundChurchill]

25 minutes ago, Derboesekoenig said:

YEARS?? Wow. I'm surprised they let it draw on that long

It was a long time between each letter.  The first letter basically said, we know you have been buying Cuban cigars and please send us a list of all of the Cuban cigars you bought.  

I wrote them back a letter saying that I reserve my right to not incriminate myself.  

The next letter I got had a list of cigars I bought, along with how much I paid for them. They said they were going to fine me the total amount I paid for the cigars on their list, unless I can give them extenuating circumstances or reasons they might consider to lower the amount of the fine.

I wrote them a letter back saying that I just bought a new home and the expense of the fine would be a hardship.  Then I waited a long time for the final letter, saying the issue has been resolved and not to do it anymore.

I dont know if this had anything to do with it, but during that long wait, Bush had left office and the Obama administration had taken over.