A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Cayuga Nation against a Cayuga County smoke shop, allowing the case to move forward to a jury trial. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York on Monday rejected motions from the operators of the Pipekeepers smoke shops, who had sought to have the case thrown out. The Cayuga Nation’s lawsuit accuses the defendants of racketeering — alleging they sold untaxed cigarettes and illegal cannabis products. No trial date has been set.
In a 27-page Memorandum-Decision and Order, the federal District Court found that the Cayuga Nation has presented sufficient evidence for the case to be heard by a jury.
“This ruling is a critical victory for the rule of law and the sovereignty of the Cayuga Nation,” said a spokesperson for the Cayuga Nation Council. “For too long, these individuals have operated illegal enterprises in open defiance of federal and Nation law, diverting revenue from our community and undermining our legitimate businesses. The Court’s decision affirms our right to protect our economic interests and hold those who engage in criminal activity accountable. We are confident that when all the facts are presented at trial, the full extent of this illegal racketeering enterprise will be exposed.”
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