WILKES-BARRE - The owner of a tobacco shop who court records show was under investigation for distributing a controlled substance, tax evasion and fraud was sentenced Wednesday to one year of probation and six months' home confinement for her guilty plea to a tax charge.
Investigators arrested Aqsa Aslam, 31, of Dickson City, in March 2012, after investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal authorities raided Alhamrah Corp. on Reeves Street in Dunmore, a retailer of convenience store smoke shop items.
As has been the history of the case, details regarding Mrs. Aslam's crime were not revealed during the sentencing hearing before Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo in Wilkes-Barre. But court documents filed in a related civil action that sought the forfeiture of more than $4 million reveal Mrs. Aslam and other unnamed individuals, were under investigation for distributing a controlled substance, tax evasion and fraud.
Mrs. Aslam pleaded guilty in October to filing a false tax return for 2007. The federal complaint said she reported income of $31,249, knowing her income was higher. The complaint did not detail the amount of her actual income or the amount of tax due.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William Houser did not mention the DEA investigation at sentencing. Documents relating to the case, including a motion prosecutors filed that sought a reduced sentence for Mrs. Aslam, remained sealed.
Mrs. Aslam's attorney, John Dempsey of Scranton, sought leniency for her, noting she agreed to forfeit $4,093,753 that was seized by the government during the March raids. She also provided significant assistance to the federal authorities in investigating alleged criminal conduct of others, Mr. Dempsey said.
Mr. Houser acknowledged Mrs. Aslam's assistance, but provided no details of the crimes that are under investigation. Speaking after the hearing, he said he could provide no further information.
Judge Caputo granted the government's motion, noting he was impressed by the level of cooperation Mrs. Aslam had provided authorities.
"I acknowledge and recognize the extensive cooperation the defendant delivered here. I do not take that lightly. Without cooperation the system does not work well," the judge said.
Addressing the court, Mrs. Aslam, who has a 1-year-old son, apologized for her conduct.
"I came to the United States when I was 13," Mrs. Aslam said, her voice occasionally choking with emotion. "It is a privilege to be an American citizen. I realize I have a responsibility to pay my taxes. ... I thought I could take a shortcut. I realize that was the easy way and the wrong way."
In addition to the probation sentence, Judge Caputo ordered Mrs. Aslam to pay a fine of $3,000. She was released following the hearing.
Contact the writer: tbesecker@ timesshamrock.com