The office of the Queens District Attorney teamed up with the Department of Investigation (DOI) and the Department of Buildings (DOB) to bust a Flushing family for turning their two-family residence into a 15-room hotel catering to Asian tourists. But authorities on the case got a bonus when they discovered that a man living in the house next door was discovered to be dealing in illegal, untaxed cigarettes out of his house.
Flushing detectives assigned to the DA’s office noticed unusual activity at the house next door – numerous people entering and leaving the premises with suitcases. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the high-traffic house was being advertised as a hotel on Chinese language websites. Detectives on the case discovered numerous building violations, making the premises dangerous to both occupants and, in case of an emergency, first responders.
Queens District Attorney Brown sits among the approximately 1,151 boxes of illegal American and Asian cigarettes, which were allegedly seized during an investigation of illegal cigarette trafficking in Queens. Photo Courtesy of District Attorney’s Office
District Attorney Brown identified the defendants as Qiumin He, 55, his wife, Chun Y Tu, 56, and their son, Xiaoshan He, 34, all of 42-03 Saull Street. They have been charged with second-degree reckless endangerment. Their next-door neighbor has been charged with illegally possessing untaxed cigarettes.
According to the criminal charges, during the course of a year-long investigation of a two-family house located at 42-03 Saull Street allegedly operating as an illegal hotel numerous individuals were repeatedly observed entering and leaving the location with luggage. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the location was being advertised on various websites, including “Chinatowninus.com” as a 15-room hotel with double, triple or quadruple occupancy options. Rooms for two people were listed at $60 per night, rooms for three people were $70 per night and rooms for four people were $90 per night. A premium was charged for private bathrooms and the location was touted as being near shopping, subways and gas stations.
During the execution of a search warrant on October 3, 2013, approximately 1,151 cartons of illegal cigarettes, both American and Asian brands, were allegedly recovered from inside of the house.
The defendants face up to one year in jail if convicted. The fourth defendant was identified as Qinghai Wei, 50, of 42-05 Saull Street. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
