Attorney General James Uthmeier Takes Legal Action Against Central Florida Smoke Shops for Marketing Illegal Nicotine Products to Children

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.-Attorney General James Uthmeier filed complaints against 27 Smoke Shop Inc., A&A Smoke Shop LLC, Alami 9 LLC, Alami 10 LLC, Epic Novelty LLC, and Fuego Smoke Shop LLC for retaining and continuing to sell nicotine products that are designated as illegal contraband under Florida law. The products are explicitly marketed to children, violating the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) and Florida's nicotine product statutes.

"Florida law is clear: businesses cannot sell these illicit and dangerous Chinese-produced vapes, especially when marketing them to our kids," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "These shops were given clear directives and plenty of time to get right with the law. Now it's time for accountability."

The complaint alleges that the smoke shops sold, shipped, or failed to remove products from their inventory that were listed on Florida's Nicotine Dispensing Device Directory. This violates Florida statutory requirements that retailers remove any illegal products within 60 days of their listing in the directory.

Products sold in retail stores after the 60-day mark are considered contraband under Florida law.

The businesses are subject to civil penalties of $10,000 per violation and $15,000 per violation victimizing a senior citizen or person who has a disability.

Additionally, they are subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 per banned nicotine dispensing device sold, shipped, or otherwise distributed.

To read the full complaint filed in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, click here.

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