A Roanoke Rapids man is among several to plead guilty in a 40-count federal indictment in a two-year undercover investigation involving the trafficking of contraband cigarettes.

The Roanoke Rapids man indicted federally in an illegal cigarette selling sting was running a store called The Candy Shack on Tenth Street, according to tax records with the city.

United States Attorney George E. B. Holding announced that a Federal Grand Jury returned a 40-count criminal indictment charging five individuals in a conspiracy to profit from the illegal trade in large quantities of cigarettes without payment of applicable state taxes. The Indictment was unsealed following their arrests and initial appearances in court on February 24.