5 Arrested During Operation “Nico-TEEN”

PRESS RELEASE – In November 2025, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division began an extensive undercover operation into the sale of tobacco and alcohol products to minors.

The months-long investigation, coined “Operation Nico-TEEN” by investigators, led to the arrests of five individuals in Toccoa-Stephens County yesterday afternoon.

Following multiple citizen complaints that local convenience stores and vape shops were selling nicotine-derived tobacco products (vapes) and alcohol to minors, SCSO investigators began conducting a months-long investigation utilizing underage individuals to purchase nicotine-derived vapes and alcohol from local convenience and vape stores.

During the investigation of approximately 30 stores throughout Toccoa-Stephens County, five stores were found to be out of compliance with state minimum sales age and identification check threshold laws.

This means that at least five store employees sold vapes and/or alcohol to individuals under the legal age limit of 21 years old.

At approximately 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, SCSO investigators visited the five out-of-compliance stores.

In less than two hours, all five individuals who were found to have sold vapes and/or alcohol to minors were arrested without incident and transported to the Stephens County Jail.

“This is an ongoing effort to curb the sale of tobacco-based products to underage children in Stephens County,” said Sheriff Rusty Fulbright. “Concerned parents have cried out, and we are doing more than just listening. We still do not know the long-term side effects of nicotine-derived vapes, but our children should not be the experiment.”

Prajoy Deb, 26 of Martin, was taken into custody at approximately 3:23 p.m. at the Chevron/Royal Foods convenience store located Highway 17 near Old Mill Road in Eastanollee.

Deb is charged with Sale of Tobacco to Minor and Furnishing Alcohol to Minor.

Jaskaran Singh, 19 of Queens, N.Y., was taken into custody at approximately 3:34 p.m. at the Citgo/American Eagle I convenience store on Big A Road in Toccoa.

Jaskaran, who has been residing in Toccoa, is charged with Sale of Tobacco to Minor.

Sarbjit Singh, 33 of Toccoa, was taken into custody at approximately 4:25 p.m. at the Citgo/Mountain Mart convenience store at the intersection of Big A Road and Highway 123.

Sarbjit is charged with Sale of Tobacco to Minor.

Harpreet Singh, 21 of Toccoa, was taken into custody at approximately 4:29 p.m. at the Raceway convenience store on Big A Road.

Harpreet, also known as “Happy,” is charged with Sale of Tobacco to Minor.

He was previously arrested on December 31, 2025, for Furnishing Alcohol to Minor following a traffic stop where an SCSO deputy learned two individuals under the age of 21 years old had just purchased alcohol from Harpreet at Raceway.

Kathy Mize, 71 of Toccoa, was taken into custody at approximately 4:51 p.m. while working at Dollar Tree in Toccoa.

During the undercover operation, Mize sold a vape to a minor while working at Marathon/Collins Convenience located at the intersection of Collins Road and Pond Street in Toccoa.

She is charged with Sale of Tobacco to Minor.

Since being booked into the Stephens County Jail, three of these individuals have received detainers from the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pending deportation due to lacking active passports and/or work visas.

“This vaping epidemic is harmful to our community and our families in more ways than we may realize, both short and long term,” said Sheriff Fulbright. “Whether it’s happening in the schools or on the street, we will continue doing what we can to keep these harmful devices out of our children’s hands. This is about the safety of our children, and those who are selling to our children do not care about their health. We will not tolerate the distribution of vape products to our teens and preteens.”

According to multiple studies, vape-related health risks are increasing worldwide, causing a wide range of pulmonary, neurological, cardiovascular, and oro-dental diseases. Specifically, cases of COPD, popcorn lung, and even anxiety and depression have increased within a 5-year study of the effects of vaping nicotine. Unlike classic cigarettes, e-cigarettes (vapes) quickly heat toxic chemicals and a high potency of nicotine which individuals inhale with just one hit puff, and it is extremely addictive.

Many teens are inhaling carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals through a vape an average of 20-30 times a day, often buying more than one vape each week.

“Forging a safer, stronger Stephens County starts with protecting our youth. The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office will stand in the gap to protect our future,” said Sheriff Fulbright. “My advice to store owners and clerks: Our enforcement will not stop, so you better ID.”