ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 30, 2007) - Agents for Comptroller Peter Franchot charged a Cambridge man today with attempting to sell alcohol illegally. The former seafood seller advertised beer and seafood for sale online in exchange for a laptop computer.

Agents discovered Jason Matthew Wheeler, 31, of Cambridge, selling his old seafood inventory and alcohol without a license in the parking lot of McDonald's restaurant at 1450 Whitehall Road in Annapolis. Wheeler had a license previously when he operated at 400 Academy Street in Cambridge, but that license was for the sale of alcohol on and from that location and did not allow for sale beyond.

The investigation began earlier this month when agents discovered the Internet posting about the proposed alcohol and seafood barter. Agents communicated with Wheeler who agreed to deliver the goods and even assisted the agents with loading the items into their vehicle.

After the merchandise was exchanged, agents produced identification and seized nearly 300 containers of beer. Officials from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also issued a Notice of Detention on the items which restricts the owner on its disposal.

Charges have been filed against Mr. Wheeler including: unlawfully selling alcoholic beverages without the required license, unlawfully possessing alcoholic beverages for purpose of sale and unlawfully doing business without a required trader's license. The alcohol charges are misdemeanors, each carrying a potential fine and imprisonment of up to $1,000 and/or two years. The trader's license violation is also a misdemeanor carrying a potential fine and imprisonment of up to $300 and/or 30 days.

This is the second person to face charges in recent months resulting from Internet solicitations involving alcohol. So far this fiscal year, 52 people have been charged with alcoholic beverages violations and agents have confiscated alcoholic beverages valued at nearly $160,000.

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CONTACT: Christine Duray, 410-260-6346 (office), 443-336-0215 (cell)