TOCCOA, Ga. — A months-long undercover investigation into the illegal sale of vape products and alcohol to minors has resulted in the arrest of five store employees in Stephens County.
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division began the investigation in November after receiving multiple complaints from residents that convenience stores and vape shops were selling nicotine-derived vape products and alcohol to underage customers.
Investigators dubbed the operation “Operation Nico-TEEN.” During the probe, deputies used underage individuals to attempt purchases at approximately 30 convenience stores and vape shops throughout Toccoa and Stephens County.
Authorities say five stores were found to be out of compliance with state laws requiring sellers to verify that customers are at least 21 years old before purchasing tobacco or alcohol products. Investigators determined that employees at those locations sold vape products and/or alcohol to underage individuals.
Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, investigators visited the five stores identified during the investigation. Within about two hours, all five suspects were arrested without incident and transported to the Stephens County Jail.
Prajoy Deb, 26, of Martin, was taken into custody at about 3:23 p.m. at the Chevron/Royal Foods convenience store on Highway 17 near Old Mill Road in Eastanollee. Deb is charged with selling tobacco to a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
Jaskaran Singh, 19, of Queens, New York, was arrested at about 3:34 p.m. at the Citgo/American Eagle I convenience store on Big A Road in Toccoa. Singh, who has been residing in Toccoa, is charged with selling tobacco to a minor.
Sarbjit Singh, 33, of Toccoa, was taken into custody at about 4:25 p.m. at the Citgo/Mountain Mart convenience store at the intersection of Big A Road and Highway 123. He is charged with selling tobacco to a minor.
Harpreet Singh, 21, of Toccoa, also known as “Happy,” was arrested at about 4:29 p.m. at the Raceway convenience store on Big A Road. He is charged with selling tobacco to a minor. Authorities say Singh was previously arrested on December 31, 2025, for furnishing alcohol to a minor after deputies learned during a traffic stop that two people under 21 had purchased alcohol from him at the same store.
Kathy Mize, 71, of Toccoa, is charged with selling tobacco to a minor. Investigators say Mize allegedly sold a vape to a minor while working at Marathon/Collins Convenience at the intersection of Collins Road and Pond Street in Toccoa.
Authorities said three of the individuals booked into the Stephens County Jail have also received detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending deportation due to issues involving passports or work visas.
“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,” Sheriff Rusty Fulbright said.
According to multiple studies, vape-related health risks are increasing worldwide, causing a wide range of pulmonary, neurological, cardiovascular, and oral-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.
Fulbright said the sheriff’s office plans to continue enforcement efforts aimed at keeping vape products out of the hands of minors.
“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.”
