Robert David Alent, a 49 year old man from Bad Axe, was sentenced in May of 2013 to two to seven years in prison for eight felony charges. He was convicted of delivering ‘bath salts’ – a lab-created drug containing synthetic chemicals that are similar to amphetamines, and of maintaining a drug house in both his home and his business.
A few days ago, Alent appeared in the Huron County Circuit Courtroom via teleconference. He now faces additional charges of tobacco products tax violation and delivery/possession of counterfeit goods. He is serving his current sentence at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer. Â The new charges are felony charges, each of which carries a 5 year potential prison sentence.
Tobacco products tax violation is a felony
The added charges result from a separate investigation into Alent’s business, a store called Maple Lane Discount in Verona Township. Â Apparently the store was in possession of several hundred dollars worth of tobacco products Alent could not account for through invoices. Tobacco products tax violation is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
In addition, Alent was found to be in possession of 170 pairs of counterfeit Oakley brand sunglasses. A representative from Oakley estimated that the sunglasses, had they been legally for sale, would have cost a very minimum of $100 each, making the total value in excess of $17,000. Delivery or possession of counterfeit goods is also a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
A good overview on counterfeit good can be found at here.
Alent is also being charged as a habitual offender, this being his fourth offense. This increases the maximum prison sentence to life. He pled not guilty to the additional charges.