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Alcoholic Beverage Board fines three licensees after underage-tobacco compliance checks
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Summary
The Alcoholic Beverage Board of Saint Mary's County imposed $150 administrative fines on three licensees after sheriff's office compliance checks found clerks sold tobacco to a 20-year-old confidential informant; clerks pled guilty in District Court and received court fines ranging from $55 to $105.
The Alcoholic Beverage Board of Saint Mary's County on April 9 imposed $150 administrative fines on three licensed businesses after sheriff's office compliance checks found clerks had sold tobacco to a 20-year-old confidential informant.
Abhin Chandr Patel, the licensee for California Wine and Spirits, told the board that "my employee sold it to a minor" and that the clerk "was still thinking the tobacco age is still 18." The board heard that on Dec. 17, 2025 a 20-year-old confidential informant entered the store and was sold a pack of cigarettes without being asked for identification; the clerk, identified in the report as Samuel Elliott Fahey, later pled guilty in District Court and the court fined him $105. The board voted to assess a $150 administrative fine against the licensee. Board chair David Willenborg said the licensee has 10 days to pay and 30 days to appeal the board decision to the Circuit Court of Saint Mary's County.
A separate compliance check at Wildwood Wine and Spirits on Dec. 17, 2025 produced a similar result. Ronak Sharma, the licensee who appeared before the board, said the clerk involved "was still training" and that the business terminated the employee. The clerk named in that case, Karamjit Singh, pled guilty in District Court and received a $105 fine; the board again voted $150 against the licensee.
Powell Liquors and Gas was the third case. Licensee (recorded during testimony as) Bridal Pal Singh told the board, "We check each and every ID," and said a short-term helper made the sale during a rushed moment. The clerk, Damanjeet Singh, pled guilty in District Court and received a $50 fine plus $5 in court fees ($55). The board voted to impose a $150 administrative fine on the licensee.
Deputy Stephen Myers, the alcohol enforcement coordinator for the sheriff's office, explained that the sheriff's office sends confidential buyers to conduct tobacco compliance checks; he reported the March sweep visited 22 locations and found two violations that month but noted that on one prior day three failures occurred. "Sometimes it's the young employees just wanna impress the owner to have sales," Myers said when discussing possible causes for failures.
Board members said they viewed the fines as a necessary enforcement tool that holds licensees responsible for activities on their premises, even when criminal charges fall on clerks. Several members recommended more training for employees and emphasized that carding policies should be enforced consistently.
Each licensee was informed of the board's standard appeal and payment timelines: ten days to pay an administrative fine and 30 days to file an appeal with the Circuit Court of Saint Mary's County.
