4 plead guilty in state cigarette conspiracy

4 plead guilty in state cigarette conspiracy

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Story Published: Nov 20, 2008 at 6:44 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2008 at 8:37 PM PDT

By Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) - Three members of the Stillaguamish Tribe and one of their wives have agreed to pay Washington state $25 million in restitution for dealing in contraband cigarettes.

Edward Goodridge Sr. and his wife Linda Goodridge, their son Edward Jr., and the family's cousin Sara Milliron Schroedl ran the Blue Stilly smokeshop on tribal land near Arlington, Wash. They pleaded guilty Thursday to charges including conspiracy and illegal financial transactions.

Prosecutors say the defendants bought 1.8 million cartons of contraband, untaxed cigarettes from out-of-state wholesalers from 2003 to 2007. They avoided paying nearly $26 million in state taxes - and kept more than $15 million for themselves.

As part of the plea agreement the defendants forfeited $1 million and agreed to repay the state $25 million.

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