The owner of the Cheema’s and Thrifty’s gas-convenience store-liquor chains has been charged with what’s essentially bootlegging at his Scottsbluff store.
54-year old Kuldip “Cheema” Singh of Scottsbluff is charged with 4 counts of transporting liquor into the state to evade the liquor tax and acquiring liquor from a source other than a licensed dealer.
Singh’s multiple business operations includes stores in Chadron, Rushville, Bridgeport, Lexington, and Torrington.
Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas says an ongoing investigation led to a search warrant raid at the Scottsbluff store Wednesday morning.
Officers seized 36 bottles of liquor suspected of being purchased in Wyoming for sale in Nebraska
The case has also been referred to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for possible licensure action.
Cheema has said in past interviews he came to the United States in 1991 from India. He first lived in big cities but said he desired to be somewhere rural, so he settled in Scottsbluff after about 6 years in the country.