GEORGIA — A months-long undercover investigation into the illegal sale of vape products and alcohol to minors has resulted in the arrest of five store employees in Stephens County, authorities said.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division launched the investigation in November after receiving multiple complaints from residents that convenience stores and vape shops were selling nicotine-derived vape products and alcohol to underage customers.
Investigators dubbed the effort “Operation Nico-TEEN.” During the operation, deputies used underage individuals to attempt purchases at about 30 convenience stores and vape shops throughout Toccoa and Stephens County.
According to the sheriff’s office, five stores were found to be out of compliance with state laws requiring sellers to verify that customers are at least 21 years old before purchasing tobacco or alcohol products.
Investigators said employees at those locations sold vape products and/or alcohol to underage individuals.
Authorities visited the identified stores Tuesday afternoon and arrested the suspects within about two hours. All five individuals were transported to the Stephens County Jail.
Those arrested include:
- Prajoy Deb, 26, of Martin, charged with selling tobacco to a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
- Jaskaran Singh, 19, of Queens, New York, charged with selling tobacco to a minor.
- Sarbjit Singh, 33, of Toccoa, charged with selling tobacco to a minor.
- Harpreet Singh, 21, of Toccoa, also known as “Happy,” charged with selling tobacco to a minor. Authorities said Singh had previously been arrested in December 2025 for furnishing alcohol to a minor after a traffic stop investigation.
- Kathy Mize, 71, of Toccoa, charged with selling tobacco to a minor.
Officials said three of the individuals booked into the Stephens County Jail also received detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement related to passport or work visa issues.
Stephens County Sheriff Rusty Fulbright said the investigation was aimed at protecting young people in the community.
“This is about the safety of our children, and those who are selling to our children do not care about their health,” Fulbright said in a statement. “We will not tolerate the distribution of vape products to our teens and preteens.”
Fulbright added that enforcement efforts will continue and warned store owners and clerks to verify customers’ ages before making sales.
“Our enforcement will not stop, so you better ID,” he said.
