New Bedford store owner charged with selling butts and booze without a license

Linda Roy, Standard-Times
·1 min read

NEW BEDFORD — The owner of a men's clothing store, specializing in cowboy boots, on Acushnet Avenue has been charged by New Bedford Police for selling cigarettes and alcohol — two items the business is not licensed to sell.

Thomas Xirum, 46, owner of Botas Vaqueras at 1522 Acushnet Avenue, is being charged with "maintaining a nuisance business and illegal sale of flavored tobacco."

According to a press release from police, detectives kept watch over the store after receiving complaints from the community.

New Bedford Police seized alcohol and cigarettes from an Acushnet Avenue store, charging the owner with selling the items without a license.
New Bedford Police seized alcohol and cigarettes from an Acushnet Avenue store, charging the owner with selling the items without a license.

Police observed a customer leaving with a Newport Menthol cigarettes which are not allowed for sale in Massachusetts.

Owner of Botas Vaqueras on Acushnet Ave. has been charged by New Bedford Police for selling cigarettes and alcohol without a license.
Owner of Botas Vaqueras on Acushnet Ave. has been charged by New Bedford Police for selling cigarettes and alcohol without a license.

Police entered the store and found "multiple boxes of the cigarettes" and "bottles of alcohol." Police noted that "cigarettes were being sold by the box, as well as individually. Beer was being sold by the can and shots of alcohol by the cup."

The lead investigator is Detec Samuel Algarin-Mojica.

Standard-Times digital producer Linda Roy can be reached at lroy@s-t.com You can follow her on Twitter at @LindaRoy_SCT. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford store owner charged with illegal sales of cigarettes, alcohol