A Connecticut tobacco wholesaler has been sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for defrauding the state of more than $1.2 million in tobacco tax revenue. Khawar M. Khokhar, 37, of Ellington, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Khokhar operated Smokin’ Wholesale LLC, a licensed wholesale business that purchased smokeless tobacco and other products from out-of-state distributors in Pennsylvania and Illinois. He then sold these products to retail merchants within Connecticut.
Between May 2017 and June 2019, Khokhar and his company bought approximately $2 million worth of tobacco products but failed to accurately report the value of these imports to the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. They also did not pay the required state tobacco taxes. This resulted in a tax loss to Connecticut exceeding $1.2 million.
Judge Nagala ordered Khokhar to pay restitution totaling $1,140,994.13 and to forfeit $60,707 seized during the investigation.
Khokhar was arrested on May 20, 2024. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy on April 3, 2025.
Khokhar is currently released on a $100,000 bond and must report to prison by January 19.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services Criminal Investigations Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. McGarry prosecuted the case.
