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Business & Tech

Liquor Board: No Guarantee Decker's Will Reopen Wednesday

The Harford County Liquor Control Board is scheduled hear the licensees' case Wednesday after a postponement last month.

is set to reopen Wednesday, according to a sign on the front door. But a spokeswoman for the Harford County Liquor Control Board said that is not a guarantee.

The Baltimore Pike store's license expired May 1, four days after one of the store's licensees requested a postponement for a hearing on three charges against the business: purchasing from someone other than a wholesaler, falsifying an application and falsifying records.

Joseph Borromeo and Virgil Dale Davis are the store's licensees. Davis requested the postponement because his lawyer was not present at the April 27 hearing. The hearing is scheduled to resume Wednesday at 3 p.m.

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"It’s not done. Nothing’s been decided," said Kathryn Thess, an administrator for the liquor board. "They could face anywhere from a $250 fine up to a $2,000 fine on each charge and/or they could face more suspension or revocation of the license."

If the licensees are found not guilty of the charges, Thess said, they would be able to reopen for business that night. But if Borromeo and Davis are found guilty of any of the charges, their license could be suspended.

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"They were well aware they would not have a license ... until we get this to a hearing," she said. "The licensees were given the opportunity to go ahead with the license [April 27]."

"Sorry, we are CLOSED until May 18, 2011," read two sheets of paper on Decker's front door.

by the FBI and IRS on Nov. 15 for its connections to Amrik Singh Melhi, 51, of Clarksville, and his wife, Ravinder Kaur Melhi, 49.

"Amrik Singh Melhi and others would pay police officers in exchange for them using their official authority to ensure the safe transport and distribution of untaxed cigarettes and alcohol in Maryland and Virginia," said an FBI statement released in November.

Decker's was closed the day of the investigation, but reopened the next day. Charges against the Melhis, who were identified as part owners at the time, are still pending.

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