Bootlegger is busted in Rye

A WANNABE Queens bootlegger was arrested after cops found 200 gallons of untaxed booze in his vehicle, officials said Friday.

Juncheng Chen was driving in Rye, Westchester County, when state police pulled him over Nov. 9, according to court records. Chen’s vehicle was packed with 757 liters of liquor he bought at five tax-free state-run liquor shops in New Hampshire, authorities said.

By bringing in out-of-state alcohol, Chen avoided at least $1,288 in New York liquor taxes.

Chen, 45, has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges — possession of more than 360 liters of liquor untaxed by New York state and acting as an unlicensed distributor.

“Alcohol-related tax evasion, as this case clearly shows, is on our radar,” said Nonie Manion, acting commissioner of New York’s Department of Taxation and Finance. “We’ll work with all levels of law enforcement to tackle the problem head-on.”