A Prince George’s County liquor store owner pleaded guilty Wednesday to buying and selling contraband alcohol as part of a conspiracy that prosecutors say included then-County Executive Jack Johnson. Amrik Melhi, 51, owner of several county liquor stores including Tick Tock Liquors in Hyattsville, entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion for his role in a multistate alcohol smuggling ring that bypassed Maryland state taxes on the spirits.
Also involved in the operation were a Prince George’s County police officer, Richard Delabrer, as well as Johnson, prosecutors said.
Johnson pleaded guilty last month to one count of extortion and one count of evidence tampering following an FBI investigation of pay-to-play schemes in Prince George’s County, and faces up to 40 years in prison. His wife, Councilwoman Leslie Johnson, D-Upper Marlboro, faces federal witness and evidence tampering charges. She would be removed from the council if she were found guilty of the crimes.
According to his plea agreement, Melhi paid Delabrer and others to help smuggle untaxed alcohol from Virginia to be sold to Melhi’s store in Maryland.
Melhi also provided money, campaign donations and other gifts to Johnson in exchange for help obtaining Prince George’s County business licenses and permits, as well as for influencing legislation favorable to Melhi’s stores and restaurants, according to the plea deal.
Delabrer also pleaded guilty in May for his role in coordinating the sale of contraband alcohol and serving as protection for shipments while possessing his police identification and firearm.
Melhi’s plea agreement comes with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, with three years of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine. He must also forfeit $975,327.32 to the federal government, but will not have to turn over other assets, including his home and businesses.
Melhi’s wife and business partner, 49-year-old Ravinder Melhi, pleaded guilty to unauthorized access to a public computer for asking her husband to use a police source to gain access to Motor Vehicle Administration databases.
Ravinder faces up to five years in prison.
Both Amrik Melhi and Ravinder had entered pleas of not guilty in November after each was charged in an October indictment detailing the conspiracy. Ravinder was dropped from the indictment.
“Mr. Melhi decided to plead guilty once the government agreed not to oppose probation for his wife and not seek forfeiture of his home, businesses and other properties,” said Kenneth Ravenell, Melhi’s attorney.
Melhi will remain detained until his sentencing, scheduled for Sept. 12. Ravinder, who is under electronic surveillance while she cares for the couple’s three children at their home, is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 11.
