Known to cause cancer. (Image by Geierunited.)

Lonnie Warner, a.k.a. Lonnie Loosie, is a genial entrepreneur who sells untaxed tobacco in Manhattan a full pack or a single coffin nail at a time, frequently getting arrested. Joseph Goldstein of the New York Times profiles the small businessman:

“In the four years since he began selling cigarettes, Mr. Warner recalls being arrested 15 times, generally on the charge of selling untaxed tobacco. He has been arrested so often that he can recognize 10 different plainclothes police officers, he claims. The ever-present risk of arrest makes working with partners valuable — ‘we have six eyes on this block,’ he explained.

Over many court appearances, Mr. Warner has made a favorable impression on the lawyers in Midtown Community Court, who know him as Lonnie Loosie and consider him better company than the typical misdemeanor defendant.

‘There are people who are known bad guys, and then there’s him,’ said Russell S. Novack, the Legal Aid lawyer who represents many of Midtown’s hustlers, prostitutes, shoplifters and public drunks. ‘He’s like the goodwill ambassador of Eighth Avenue. And when he comes into court, he says hello to everybody.'”