Bootleggers and Sales Tax Theft/Fraud by Patels, Hindus, Men and Women from Gujarat, India and Muslims, Indian Americans liquor store owners of Schaumburg, IL and Chicago area, indicted and faces Prison and Fine

Nine liquor store operators, including two from the Southland, have been charged with tax evasion as part of a crackdown on liquor bootlegging, the Illinois Attorney General's office announced Thursday.

Between July 2010 and December 2013, the nine defendants defrauded the state out of $3.5 million in sales tax revenue, according to the office.

Among those charged are Abdel Fattah Hammad, 41, of Tinley Park, who runs Al Muflihi Food & Liquors, in Chicago, and Yasir Kanan, 38, of Oak Lawn, who operates Jeff's Food and Liquor, 8258 S. Halsted St., Chicago. Hammad's bail was set Thursday at $100,00 and Kanan's at $50,000.

Two Indiana men were also charged, and it's alleged that the Illinois merchants bypassed taxes they would have paid if they bought liquor from a distributor by dealing directly with Indiana liquor stores.

State authorities were initially made aware of the bootlegging through a tip from an Illinois retailer, according to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, which said it alerted the revenue department in June 2013.

Earlier this year, the Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois said it had conducted its own investigation that showed hundreds of cases of alcohol being transported from liquor stores in Indiana to retailers in Illinois. The association said it notified Illinois authorities of the bootlegging, identifying some Illinois stores where Indiana shipments ended up.

The group, which represents major liquor distributors, said the illegal sales and tax evasion was costing Illinois millions of dollars in lost sales tax revenue.

The attorney general's office said five of those charged were arrested Wednesday morning by revenue department agents, with assistance from Bridgeview and Palos Hills police, and the remaining defendants later surrendered to authorities.

Also charged are Jiggarkumar Patel, 37, of Schaumburg; Mukesh Patel, 62, of Des Plaines; Nishant Patel, 33, of Des Plaines; Vishal Patel, 31, of Des Plaines; Rajanikant Patel, 44, of Hoffman Estates; Cherag Patel, 39, of South Bend, and Dipakkumar Patel, 41, of Munster.

Anjani Liquors Inc. also known as Columbia Liquors Hammond, Indiana bought liquor in millions and sold to seventeen liquor stores owned or operated by themselves, friends, family or as straw owner thourgh backdoor register.  The stores as reported in indictment in Federal Court in State of Indiana.

Here is a list of Patel Hindu Store owners, Men and Women who are originally from Gujarat, India, who were involved in this Sales Tax Fraud Scam.

1. Suchetaben H. Patel, President/Secretary, KIRTAN AND BHAKTI INC., DBA JJ'S MINUTE MART LOCATED IN CHICAGO.

2. Urmila Patel, Mother of Diptiben Patel, President/Owner AM Wine and Spirits Inc. DBA Marshfield Wine and Spirit in Calumet Park, IL

3. Shreyas Patel, President/Secretary Patson Liquor Inc. dba Buddy's liquor in Saul Village, IL

4. Shreyas Patel, President/Secretary San Corporation Inc. dba STOP N GO Food Mart in Chicago, IL

5. Shisher Patel, President/Sec.  Reya Wine and Spirits Inc. DBA Brother's Inc  Liquor in, Chicago, IL

6. Dinesh Patel, President/Sec. Dabaang Inc. dba Hareer Food & Liquor located in Chicago, IL

7. Nilaysharan Patel, President/Sec. Treqsurer Shreyas Patel, Belmonte Food, Wine & Spirits Inc., dba Belmonte Liquors in Chicago, IL

8. Sachi Desai, President, 4801 Chicago Prestige Good & Liquor Inc located in Chicago, IL

9. Rajendra Patel, President/Sec.  Ketul Inc. DBA Paradise  Liquor located in, Calumet City, IL

10. Ketan Kumar Soni, President/Secretary Ken Emporium Liquor Inc Located in Midlothian, IL

11. Shishir Patel, President/Secretary Lawndale Food Wine & Spirits Inc. Located in Chicago, IL

12. Jagruti Patel, President/Secretary Ridpuj Inc dba Palos Pantry located in Palos Hills, IL

13. Shreyas Patel is the holder of the liquor license for kerfood Food & Liquor Inc located in Chicago.

14. Mukundbhai Patel President/Secretary Mukund is a husband of Urmilaben Patel both are parents of Dipti Patel wife of Shreyas Patel PM Wine & Spirits Inc located in Chicago IL 

Here is a List of Muslims Store owner involved in this Sales Tax Frauds.

15. Suhel Haddad, President/Secretary, Sami Brothers INC., dba Sam Food & Liquor located in Chicago, IL

16. Abel Aguilar, President/Secretary 11112 South Halsted Street Street Corp dba Sheldon Liquors located in Chicago, IL

17.  Abel Aguilar, President/Secretary 421 East 104-103rd Street Corp dba Sheldon Liquors located in Chicago, IL

Illinois Attorney General Honorable Lisa Madigan filed charges against the following Hindu Patels Individuals for Bootlegging and Sales tax theft/fraud.

1. Chirag Patel, 39, of South Bend, IN, AB Food and Liquor

2. Dipakkumar Patel, 41, Munster IN, Jeff's Food and Liquor

3. Jigarkumar Patel, 37, of Schaumburg, IL, AB Food and Liquor

4. Mukesh Patel, 62, of Des Plaines, IL, Buddy's Wine and Spirits

5. Nishant Patel, 33, of Des Plaines, IL, Liquors Galore, dba Maple Park Wine and Spirits 2. Buddy's Wine and Spirits, 3. Madison Food and Spirits
6. Vishal Patel, 31, of Des Plaines, IL, Buddy's Wine and Spirits
7. Rajanikant Patel,44 of Hoffman Estates, IL, Quick Stop Food and Liquor
8. Kanan and his business associate, Dipak kumar Patel, are each facing a Class 2 felony charges for sales tax theft of more than $10,000 a class 2 felony punishable by three to seven years in prison.

IL Attorney General Honorable Lisa Madigan filed charges against Following Muslims store owners
9. Abdel Fattah Hamad, 41, of Tinley Park, IL, Al Mufleh Food & Liquors
10. Yasir Kanan, 38, of Oak Lawn, Jeff's Food and Liquor