Hyattsville Liquor Store Named in Federal Indictment

The owner of the property where sits on Hamilton Street was among the nine people arrested and charged in the FBI probe into Prince George's County.

Amrik Singh Melhi and his wife, Ravinder, of Clarksville were charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce with extortion. The address of 2903 Hamilton St. — the location of Lee's — was one of 25 pieces of property mentioned in the federal indictment.

The charges state that Melhi and others allegedly would pay police officers, so that they could use them for safe transport and distribution of untaxed cigarettes and alcohol in Maryland and Virginia.

Lee's owner Ajay Sharma – who was not named in the indictment – said his business has not been involved with any of the activity mentioned in the indictment and that he has had no dealings with the distributors who supply Tick Tock Liquors, a liquor store in Langley Park owned by Melhi. IRS and FBI investigators spent hours at Tick Tock Monday and left the location with about 50 boxes of evidence.

"When I heard [about] it I was shocked," Sharma said Tuesday.

He added that he sees Melhi – whom he described as a family man – about once a month when Melhi would come to collect a rent check. Sharma said he has never had any conflicts with Melhi.

The defendants in the extortion conspiracy case could a face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

The indictment says that Melhi and the other defendants must forfeit any property obtained during criminal actions and any property used during those activities. That includes the property where Lee's is located. Additionally, the seven defandants charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce with extortion, including Melhi and his wife, must also forfeit $3.5 million, 13 vehicles and 84 bank accounts believed to be proceeds of a crime or used to facilitate crimes. The other two defendants, brought up on drug and firearm charges, must also forfeit any property or proceeds from a crime or used in a crime.

Melhi and his wife, who were represented in court on Monday by attorney Gabriel Christian and his colleagues, were scheduled to appear in court Tuesday at 3 p.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively.