A member of the Wiyot Tribe of California who operates a smokeshop on her reservation is facing charges in state court.

Ardith Huber, the owner of Huber Enterprise Smoke Shop, is charged with selling contraband cigarettes. She sells Indian-owned tobacco brands that aren't approved by the state of California and she hasn't collected the state's sales tax.

Huber sought to transfer her case to federal court but a judge rejected the request in July. Her lawyer expects a new ruling from state court this week.

”You've got a Native American on her own Indian reservation,” attorney Michael Robinson told The Eureka Times-Standard. “Tribes are sovereign entities.”

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Loleta smoke shop sued by state for 'contraband cigarettes' (The Eureka Times-Standard 11/7)