Feds accuse owner of Conn. inn of bilking Conn., Mass. of millions in tobacco tax revenue

Federal officials have accused the owner of the Litchfield Inn of defrauding Massachusetts and Connecticut of $43 million in tobacco taxes.

The Republican-American reports (http://bit.ly/1wuxyqA ) that an indictment in U.S. District Court in Springfield, Massachusetts, accuses Syed I. Bokhari of accepting cash for tobacco products in amounts of more than $10,000 without reporting the transactions.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms says Bokhari failed to pay excise taxes on smokeless tobacco and cigars from 2008 to 2012.

Bokhari did not immediately return a call early Thursday morning seeking comment.

The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, trafficking in contraband smokeless tobacco and money laundering. The 50-year-old Bokhari also is accused of providing false invoices and false tax returns.

Bokhari bought the Litchfield Inn in 2011 for $1.7 million.

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Information from: Republican-American, http://www.rep-am.com