Blue Stilly Smoke Shop supplier admits guilt

Published 10:29 pm Wednesday, February 18, 2009

SEATTLE — An Arizona man admitted Wednesday that he illegally sold more than a million cartons of cigarettes to Stillaguamish tribal leaders between 2003 and 2007.

Robert Stuber, 60, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes and conspiracy to launder money. According to court documents, Stuber was a supplier to the Blue Stilly Smoke Shop in Arlington, owned by Ed and Linda Goodridge, their son Eddie Goodridge, and a relative, Sara Schroedl.

All four have served as tribal government leaders in the past. Eddie Goodridge was the tribe’s executive director until he and the others pleaded guilty to selling untaxed cigarettes late last year. They were ordered to pay more than $25 million that should have gone to Washington state through tobacco taxes. They each face up to 1 1/2 years in prison.

Stuber sold cigarettes to the Blue Stilly through his business, Cowlitz Candy &Tobacco Co. in Longview. The cigarettes were shipped through an Oregon warehouse and distributed through illegal distributors in New Mexico and California.