New York State Police have confirmed the arrest of the operators of a Cayuga County smoke shop following an investigation that led to gun, cannabis, and tobacco-related charges.
State police said 38-year-old Dustin Parker of Cayuga and 38-year-old Nora Weber of Seneca Falls were charged after a raid conducted on Oct. 24 by the State Police Troop E Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team.
The investigation began in August and focused on Pipekeepers, a smoke shop located in Montezuma, near the intersection of Routes 5 and 20. During the searches, police said they recovered large quantities of cannabis, unstamped cigarettes, U.S. currency, and numerous firearms.
The raid prompted the closure of the Montezuma smoke shop. Authorities did not release details about the arrests at the time, and the charges were not initially listed in daily arrest reports.
The arrests come as Parker and Weber are also involved in a separate, ongoing legal dispute with the Cayuga Nation. The nation filed a federal racketeering lawsuit alleging the operators stole its tobacco and cannabis business. In December, a jury ruled Parker and Weber liable for $75,619 in damages, while also allowing an offset related to property seized by the Cayuga Nation in 2021. Post-trial motions related to damages, potential trebling under federal law, and attorney fees remain pending.
According to state police, Parker was charged with:
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Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (five or more firearms), a Class C felony
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First-degree criminal possession of cannabis (more than 10 pounds), a Class D felony
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Willfully possessing, transporting, or selling 30,000 or more unstamped cigarettes, a Class D felony
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Two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class D felonies
Weber was charged with:
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Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (five or more firearms), a Class C felony
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First-degree criminal possession of cannabis (more than 10 pounds), a Class D felony
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Willfully possessing, transporting, or selling 30,000 or more unstamped cigarettes, a Class D felony
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Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D felony
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Criminal possession of a firearm, a Class E felony
Parker and Weber were transported for processing and arraignment. State police said additional evidence was collected and the investigation remains ongoing.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
