VALLEY SPRINGS– On October 21, 2020, California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) agents posted a Notice of Suspension at the Dollar Plus Store at 54 California Street in Valley Springs. Alcohol sales at the store are immediately prohibited and will not be allowed for 35 days.ABC filed two separate accusations against the store for illegal activity. The first accusation was filed after ABC agents from the Department’s Special Operations Unit discovered illegal drug paraphernalia at the store and sold purportedly stolen property to a store clerk on five separate occasions in January and February of 2020. The second accusation was filed after ABC agents from the Stockton District determined the store sold alcohol to a minor on August 28, 2020.
The store owner signed two separate stipulation and waiver agreements waiving the right to a hearing before an administrative law judge and accepting ABC’s penalties. The store agreed to a 20-day suspension for selling drug paraphernalia and purchasing purported stolen property and agreed to a 15-day suspension for selling alcohol to a minor. As a result, both suspensions will be served back to back and the store cannot sell alcohol for a 35-day period ending November 24, 2020.
“ABC licensees have a duty to uphold the law or risk losing their license all together,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “By selling illegal drug paraphernalia and selling alcohol to people under 21, a business is putting community members in harm’s way. Thankfully ABC agents work undercover to expose those licensees who are breaking the law.”
