New York AG Seeks to Shut Down Vape Shops, Ban Owners from Industry

Key Highlights 

• Attorney General Letitia James sues two retailers for selling banned flavored vapes and to minors.
• Defendants Eysa Sharhan and Ahmed Mozeb allegedly operated unlicensed shops and ignored fines.
• Stores — Pop-In Smoke, Pufftopia, and Royalty Tobacco — repeatedly rebranded and relocated to evade regulators.
• The state demands forfeiture of profits and payment of $200,000 in penalties.
• Lawsuit marks latest AG action addressing the “youth nicotine epidemic” in New York.

2Firsts, October 24, 2025 — According to Law360, New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a nearly 50-page petition in the State Supreme Court (Otsego County) seeking to shut down two smoke shops and permanently bar their owners from the vape industry.

The complaint alleges that Eysa Sharhan and Ahmed Mozeb engaged in a persistent pattern of unlawful conduct, including selling banned flavored vape products, selling to minors, and operating without proper state licenses.

“Despite repeated warnings, fines, and license revocations, these business owners have continued to ignore the law and endanger young New Yorkers’ health,” James said in a statement. “Our children’s health and safety are nonnegotiable. My office will not allow bad actors to put profits over people.”

The petition names Pop-In Smoke & Vape LLC, Pufftopia LLC, and Royalty Tobacco LLC as respondents. According to the filing, the owners changed business names and locations multiple times after their licenses were revoked to continue illegal operations.

Pop-In Smoke’s license was first suspended and then revoked after administrative hearings. The owners then rebranded as Pufftopia and continued sales at the same address. When Pufftopia was later shut down by the Office of Cannabis Management for selling illegal cannabis, they opened Royalty Tobacco, about a mile away, resuming flavored vape sales.

The state now seeks to seize all illicit profits and collect nearly $200,000 in unpaid fines, arguing that the defendants “continue to operate and sell flavored vapor products, endangering the health and safety of New Yorkers.”

This case, New York v. Pop-In Smoke & Vape LLC et al., No. EF2025-899, follows a February lawsuit in which the state accused major vape distributors of fueling the youth vaping epidemic.

Image source: Law360