Tobacco Sting Nets Six

Last week, the conducted a sting operation to see which of their 13 tobacco license holders would sell cigarettes to an underage customer.

Almost half of them did.

According to Det. Sgt. Greg Sullivan, six of the village’s 13 license holders will be cited for selling tobacco to a minor. Police enlisted the services of a 16-year-old “police tobacco youth agent,” Sullivan said, and sent this agent into all 13 stores between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday.

It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone under 18. The sting was conducted via the state’s Kids Can’t Buy ‘Em Here program, administered by the Illinois Liquor Control Commission.  

According to police, the businesses that sold cigarettes to the department’s agent were: , 298 Montgomery Rd.; , 811 Montgomery Rd.; , 1212 Ogden Ave.; , 596 Montgomery Rd.; , 310 Webster St.; and , 1335 Douglas Rd.

All of the employees who sold cigarettes without checking ID will be served with notice to appear in court for selling tobacco to a minor, police said.

Under state law, first offenders face a $200 fine, second offenders within one year a $400 fine, and third offenders within one year a $600 fine. State law allows the village of Montgomery to keep half of the fines collected.