MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - The owner of Fired-Up Tobacco, Inc., in Barre Town, Vt., reached a settlement with state Attorney General William Sorrell on Thursday for alleged violations of the state's tobacco laws.
Fired-Up Tobacco and its owner Christopher Moreau allegedly failed to maintain records that are required by the state. They also allegedly failed to file reports with the state or to report the sale of certain types of tobacco products. The company also allegedly sold its own brand of rolling tobacco, which is illegal in Vermont.
As part of the settlement, Moreau must give up his retail tobacco license immediately. He will also have to pay $1,000 to Vermont’s tobacco settlement fund, which holds money from tobacco litigation, and must pay $500 to Vermont to deter the costs of the attorney general's investigation. In addition, Moreau must pay a $50,000 penalty to the state, dependent on his income for the next five years.
Moreau is also prohibited from committing future violations of Vermont’s tobacco statutes and the Consumer Protection Act if he should ever participate in wholesale or retail selling of tobacco products again.