PALM COAST, Fla. -- Four Flagler County store clerks face misdemeanor charges of illegal sale of tobacco to minors after a sting operation Monday.
School resource deputies sent juveniles from the Flagler County Sheriff's Office Explorer program inside convenience stores to try to buy tobacco products. Of the 22 stores involved, 18 clerks refused to sell to the underage customers.
Four clerks sold to the the juveniles and the juveniles immediately met a deputy outside who then went inside to confront the store employee and advise them of the unlawful sale.
"The use of tobacco products by juveniles in any community is a problem. An adult selling tobacco products to youth is irresponsible, illegal and only adds to the problem. We will continue to conduct operations that address the sale of both tobacco products as well as alcohol to juveniles in the future," said Flagler County Sheriff James L. Manfre.
The businesses where the illegal sales took place were:
7-Eleven, 220 Palm Coast Parkway NE
Race-Trac Gas, 301 Palm Coast Pkwy NE
The Humidor, 101 Palm Harbor Parkway
JMJ Tobacco, 800 Belle Terre Parkway
