Underage Alcohol Operation Finds 11 Cherokee Stores In Violation

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Underage operatives were able to purchase alcohol at 11 of the 73 stores that recently were part of an underage alcohol sale enforcement detail April 1 by the Cherokee Marshal’s Office.

Underage individuals who volunteered to participate in the enforcement detail attempted to purchase alcohol at 73 stores in Cherokee County.

“Cherokee Marshal’s Office will continue to periodically check businesses for these types of violations and encourages business owners to educate and warn their employees on the ramifications and dangers of selling alcohol to underage persons,” Chief Marshal Jamie Gianfala said. “From the results of this operation, it appears there is some work that needs to be done, as having 100 percent compliance is the goal. Checking identification is certainly a good thing and is what we are after. Thank you to the 61 establishments that checked IDs and refused to sell to a minor. We appreciate your efforts in keeping alcohol out of the hands of children.”

The following establishments were cited for selling alcohol to a minor:

• Circle K, 8023 Cumming Highway, Canton. Samuel Burdo was cited for selling to a minor.
• Valero, 5963 Union Hill Road, Canton. Jaswinder Singh was cited for selling to a minor.
• Marathon, 2880 Lower Union Hill Road, Canton. MD Islam was cited for selling to a minor.
• Sunoco, 256 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. Malek Ghorbani was cited for selling to a minor.
• Walmart, 6345 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. Desiree Wilson was cited for selling to a minor.
• Sunoco, 5856 Yellow Creek Road, Ball Ground. Wagner Piraquire Jr. was cited for selling to a minor.
• Hop-In, 592 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock. Tarunkumar Patel was cited for selling to a minor.
• Shell, 6045 Highway 92, Acworth. Robin White was cited for selling to a minor.
• QT, 4865 Holly Springs Parkway, Holly Springs. Phillip Myers was cited for selling to a minor.
• Marathon, 6742 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock. Ajay Krishna was cited for selling to a minor.
• Shell, 6135 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton. Michael Golightly was cited for selling to a minor.

During the operation, Sergei Makarov was cited for open container at the 76 gas station at 6080 Highway 92, Acworth.

The Cherokee Marshal’s Office plans to continue these types of operations to combat the illegal sale of alcohol to those under 21-years-old. Anyone wishing to report an establishment that is selling or allowing minors to purchase alcohol is asked to call the Cherokee Marshal’s Office at 678-493-6200.