BORDERLAND
Tiffin firm owner gets 3 years for drugs, taxes
5/1/2014TIFFIN — A Tiffin business owner who pleaded guilty in March to drug and tax-law violations was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison.
Shawn Stagnolia, 37, was charged with aggravated possession of drugs, permitting drug abuse, distribution of tobacco products with intent to avoid payment of tax, possession of untaxed tobacco products, and failure to file a withholding return. He was sentenced by Seneca County Judge Michael Kelbley.
Officials said investigators served a search warrant on Stagnolia’s business, Zig Stag, on Market Street in Tiffin, last year and found evidence that he was selling synthetic drugs and sold tobacco products without tax.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine also filed a civil lawsuit against Stagnolia using the Consumer Sales Practice Act and Ohio’s Public Nuisance laws. The suit alleges he was engaged in “unfair, deceptive, and unconscionable acts” by selling the synthetic drugs as legal products.