Man Pleads Guilty In Plot To Distribute Cigarettes

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Pikesville man has pleaded guilty to plotting to distribute $6.6 million in contraband cigarettes.

Fifty-two-year-old Zarakh Yelizarov entered the plea Wednesday in federal court in Baltimore. He faces a maximum of 5 years in prison at sentencing July 14.

According to his plea agreement, Yelizarov took part in a conspiracy led by his cousin, 42-year-old Elmar Rakhamimov of Owings Mills. Prosecutors say Yelizarov, Rakhamimov and others laundered money from cigarette trafficking through U.S. and European banks.

Rakhamimov pleaded guilty to his role in the scheme and is awaiting sentencing.