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Vitasea! [lol]
If Sonny had EZ-Pass, he'd have survived that hit...
Never apologize mister, it's a sign of weakness. - Capt. Nathan Cutting Brittles
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OK. How did they determine which politicians were recipients of the 28,000?
Freakin' ray of sunshine, ain't I.
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how much $ did he make off this venture years before he got caught... Probation? That works for me & I carry enough fuel in my boat for a few round trips per tank.
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Here is some more info from CigarCylopedia
Los Angeles, January 22, 2009 â What happens when youâre caught with 28,000 Cuban-made cigars, 42 bottles of Cuban rum, 100 cartons of Cuban cigarettes and 30 pounds of Cuban coffee?
You get convicted of a felony and get sentenced to 36 months probation and required to enter a substance abuse program and submit to random drug testing.
Thatâs what happened Tuesday to 69-year-old Douglas Hiner of Port Charlotte, Florida, who pled guilty to one count of importing illegal goods into the U.S. Although the U.S. Attorneyâs Office had recommended a prison sentence, U.S. District Judge John Steele decided on probation instead.
Hiner was caught last May when the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted his 53-foot sailboat, the Vitamin Sea, and found hidden compartments which contained Cuban-origin goods that are prohibited under the American trade embargo with Cuba. The discovery led investigators to a Fort Myers storage facility which contained the 28,000 cigars, the rum, coffee, cigarettes and other contraband.
âObviously, I wasnât a good smuggler,â he told the Omaha World-Herald newspaper. âBut it was a victimless crime. Essentially, it was a political crime.â
Hiner was a real estate developer in Omaha and reportedly amassed a $6 million fortune before finding out that his partner had embezzled most of the money and then, after being indicted, fled to Australia. When things were good, Hiner used to sail to Cuba to deliver medical supplies and came back with some Cuban cigars for his friends.
After moving to Florida after declaring bankruptcy in 2005, Hiner soon began buying hundreds or thousands of cigars to sell in the U.S., but was apparently buying them off the street instead of from legitimate stores. Thus, he had considerable trouble moving them in the U.S. And then he ran into the Coast Guard.
âIâm very relieved,â he said after the sentencing hearing. âI had moved everything out of my apartment and into a storage locker. Basically, I thought I was going to jail.â At 69, he doesnât have a lot of job prospects, but he does have one real estate deal cooking that could lead to others.
And heâd like to be able to buy his boat back. It was seized and has been held since his arrest. But heâs ready to make an offer and doubts anyone else would have much interest in the 20-year-old sloop. But heâd like to live on the boat . . . and promises he wonât be going to Cuba again.
