OIU executes search warrant at Cincinnati gas station for illegal activity

Date: April 6, 2017
Contact: Agent-in-Charge Adam Johnson
(513) 942-0610 or (614) 752-2792

OIU executes search warrant at Cincinnati gas station for illegal activity

(Cincinnati) – Agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit executes a search warrant on April 5 at a Cincinnati BP station for illegal activity. During the investigation, agents received illegal gambling payouts of alcohol and drug paraphernalia, as well as purchased counterfeit Louis Vuitton and Versace purses.

The corporation, Aanand Petroleum, Inc., also known as the Beechmont BP, 7380 Beechmont Avenue, was criminally charged with the following:

• Two counts of gambling
• Four counts of acquire, possess, control or operate a gambling device
• Four counts of operating a gambling house
• Three counts of public gaming
• One count of trademark – possession of counterfeit goods
• One count of trademark – counterfeited goods for sale
• One count of marijuana paraphernalia

Agents also criminally charged Sant Shivhare, 48, of West Chester with the following:

• Three counts of gambling
• Four counts of acquire, possess, control or operate a gambling device
• Four counts of operating a gambling house
• Three counts of public gaming
• One count of trademark – possession of counterfeit goods
• One count of trademark – counterfeited goods for sale
• Two counts of marijuana paraphernalia

The liquor permit for Aanand Petroleum, Inc., was administratively charged with the following:

• Two counts of drug paraphernalia possession
• Three counts of acquire, possess, control or operate a gambling device
• Three counts of game of chance for profit or scheme of chance
• Three counts of electronic video gambling device
• Three counts of recklessly permitting public gaming
• Two counts of giving away alcohol as a prize
• One count of theft

Criminal charges have been filed in Hamilton Municipal Court. If convicted the business could face up to a $5,000 fine for each count. Shivhare faces up to$1,000 and a six month in jail for each count. The administrative case will be presented to the Ohio Liquor Control Commission at a later date. Possible administrative penalties include fines, suspensions, or revocation of the liquor permit. 

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Ohio Investigative Unit agents are plain-clothed fully sworn peace officers. OIU is charged with enforcing the state’s liquor laws and is the only state law enforcement agency specifically tasked with investigating food stamp fraud crimes. Agents also investigate tobacco violations. Follow OIU on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Investigative-Unit/165782203506269 and on Twitter by logging onto http://twitter.com/Ohio_OIU.     

www.statepatrol.ohio.gov                                                                        A division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety