New York State places an excise tax rate on cigarettes of $4.35 per pack of 20 cigarettes. This does not include the additional $1.50 local excises tax per package New York City places on top of the state tax.Out of all 50 states New York has the highest state excise tax rate on cigarettes, and it is not even close. New York beats the second ranked state, Rhode Island, by $0.85! It should come as no surprise that NY residents would attempt to evade these tremendous tax rates by procuring cigarettes out of state.A Brooklyn man, Vladimir Mardakhayev, is feeling the boot of the State pressed against his throat as a result of his attempts sell cigarettes without giving the State their cut. Mr. Mardkhayev was arrested and charged with one misdemeanor and three felonies for attempting to evade New York State and New York City cigarette excise taxes.The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance stole seized 194 cartons of various brands of cigarettes from Vladimir. The cigarettes had the tax stamps of Georgia and Virginia. Some of the packs of cigarettes did not have a state tax stamp.The agents of the State took all of the cartons of cigarettes and $1,177 in proceeds from their “illicit” sale. Unfortunate situations such as this remind us that there is no discernable difference between the mafia and the State.The State hates when individuals avoid their confiscatory tentacles, which serve to generate tax revenue. Agents of the State are always eager to collect and ensure compliance with all tax codes. The seizure of property by force is the fuel that enables the growth of the leviathan state.Personally, I abhor cigarettes and cannot stand being around others smoking them. This does not make it right for me to grab the wallet of a smoker and steal money as a punishment for their choice to partake in a harmful habit. Also, it is not morally right if a democratically elected “official” confiscates property from those that choose to smoke. The intention of a legislature should not be to affect the behavior of other free individuals. It is not morally right to do so and it results in a distorted marketplace that punishes non-violent people.The State has taken advantage of a very addictive habit in order to grow revenue. In essence, the State has enslaved the cigarette smoker.Check out our past editions of Felony Friday!12/20/13 - Felony Friday: The State Uses The Second Amendment To Assault The Fourth Amendment12/13/13 - Felony Friday: BB Guns Equal Jail Time In NJ12/06/13 - Felony Friday: Should Felons Have Second Amendment Rights Restored Upon Release11/29/13 - Felony Friday: Caught On Tape: Mississippi Sheriff Kicks Handcuffed Man In The Groin Twice11/22/13 - Felony Friday: In Ohio Secret Compartments In Cars Are A Felony11/15/13 - Felony Friday: MI Legislation Proposes Banning Employers From Asking About Felony Convictions On Job Applications11/08/13 - Felony Friday: Return Airport Security To The Airlines11/01/13 - Felony Friday: FL Sheriff Vindicated For His Defense Of The Second Amendment10/25/13 - Felony Friday: 21 Drone Pilots Face Racketeering Charges In Arizona10/18/13 - Felony Friday: Counterfeiters Could Destroy The State10/11/13 - Felony Friday: Sports Agent Indicted For Allegedly Providing Perks To College Athletes10/04/13 - Felony Friday: Student Charged For Leaving Fishing Gear In Car9/27/13 - Felony Friday: Man Charged For Killing Deer That Ate His Weed Plants9/13/13 - Felony Friday: The State Has A Gambling Addiction9/6/13 - Felony Friday: Don't Forget To Pay Off The ABC Before Distilling8/23/13 - Felony Friday: David Cassidy Arrest Displays Tyranny Of Pre-crime Laws8/16/13 - Felony Friday: Software To Predict Future Felons In Development8/2/13 - Felony Friday: Cops Bustin' Up The Fake Heroin Market7/26/13 - Felony Friday: Police Dogs Placed In Class Above Privately Owned7/19/13 - Felony Friday: Officer Sexually Assaults Woman In Front Of Children7/12/13 - Felony Friday: Treatment Of Kokesh Is A Ploy To Intimidate7/5/13 - Felony Friday: Student Spends Night In Jail For The Crime Of Buying Water6/21/13 - Felony Friday: Florida Toughens Marijuana Paraphernalia Laws6/14/13 - Felony Friday: Teacher Pleads Guilty To Carrying Loaded Gun On Campus5/17/13 - Felony Friday: Police Kill Unarmed Man In The Bronx, Judge Tosses Indictment4/19/13 - Felony Friday: Cop Pulls Gun At McDonald Drive-ThruReceive access to ALL of our EXCLUSIVE bonus audio content – including “Conspiracy Corner”, “Degenerate Gamblers” and the “League of Liberty Podcast” by joining the Lions of Liberty Pride and supporting us on Patreon!