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Page 26
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
June 7, 2013
One Ramadan Held On $15M Bond
By SHAWN J. SOPER
NEWS EDITOR
Air Show’s Opening Act
The OC Air Show kicked off Wednesday night with the Lucas Oil Jump Team landing at the Ocean City Fishing Center. A kick-off party was held at Micky Fins to mark the show's opening. Photo by Shawn Soper
OCEAN CITY – One of two local residents, indicted by a New York grand jury in May for allegedly being the “enterprise treasurer” for a vast money laundering operation with possible links to terrorism, was ordered held on a $15 million bond this week, while his alleged “ringleader” brother remains in custody without a bail review. In mid-May, federal officials concluded an investigation into a vast, multi-million dollar cigarette smuggling operation with raids on two locations in and around the resort area including the West Ocean City homes of local residents Basel Ramadan, 42, who is being called the “ringleader and “boss” of the operation, and Samer Ramadan, 40, who is being called the “enterprise treasurer.” Federal officials also raided the Ramadans’ offices over the Subway restaurant they owned at Sunset Drive near 26th Street. At the Ramadans’ West Ocean City homes in the Oyster Harbor community, $1.4 million in large black bags was recovered, along with 20,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes. According to the New York Attorney General’s Office, the Ramadans and their 14 co-conspirators allegedly funneled thousands of cartons of untaxed smokes and millions of dollars in ill-gotten revenue through Ocean City and Worcester County from a wholesaler in Virginia
to a distribution warehouse in Delaware, from whence the illegal, untaxed cigarettes were distributed to retail outlets all over New York City and upstate. At arraignment hearings last week, Basel and Samer Ramadan each pleaded not guilty and were remanded to custody without bond. During proceedings this week, Samer Ramadan was ordered to be held on a $15 million bond. Basel Ramadan also appeared for a bail review, but the hearing was adjourned before his bail was set and he was remanded to custody without a bond. The next court appearance for Basel and Samer Ramadan, along with all of the other suspects, is scheduled for June 24, according to court records. Meanwhile, Mohamad S. “Mike” Ramadan, the youngest brother of Basel and Samer Ramadan, who owns and operates several businesses in the resort including the Gold Coast Beer and Wine store and six Dairy Queens, has experienced a backlash in the community because of the alleged activities of his brothers and is attempting to distance himself from their alleged actions. Ramadan said this week he has seen sales decline and harassment at the businesses he owns and operates independently of his brothers. “It can’t be explained how damaging this has been,” he said. “It’s been very difficult. It’s really hard, and honestly, really dangerous. My stores and my employees are being SEE NEXT PAGE
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