Vape Distributor Under New York Pressure Pays Roger Stone $300,000 to Lobby White House

Roger Stone, a longtime adviser to President Donald Trump, has been paid at least $300,000 by Ecto World, a Buffalo-area vape distributor that operates as Demand Vape, for lobbying related to federal regulation of e-cigarettes and related products.

Political consultant Roger Stone has been paid at least $300,000 to lobby the White House on behalf of vape distributor Ecto World, also known as Demand Vape. [Photo: Gage Skidmore Flickr]

Congressional lobbying disclosures show that Ecto World had paid Stone at least $300,000 through June 30, according to reporting by Mother Jones cited by The Cool Down and other outlets.

The lobbying work was directed toward the Executive Office of the President on the “regulation of e-cigarettes and related products.”

Stone is a longtime Trump associate who was convicted in 2019 of obstruction of a congressional proceeding, false statements and witness tampering. Trump pardoned him in December 2020.

The lobbying arrangement comes as Ecto World faces significant enforcement pressure in New York.

In March, New York authorities announced the seizure of more than 28,000 pounds of illicit vapor products linked to Ecto World.

The New York State Department of Health said the investigation found the company had been shipping large quantities of vape products to sub-distributors and unlicensed retail shops across the state.

The state said the seizures included more than 26,000 pounds intercepted in Nassau County and about 2,761 pounds seized in Orange County.

Officials said criminal charges against Ecto World and its owner would be pursued through the relevant district attorneys' offices.

New York City also sued Ecto World, its affiliate Magellan Technology and company executives in 2023, alleging violations of laws governing the marketing, distribution and sale of flavored e-cigarettes.

The allegations are disputed legal claims, not findings of criminal guilt.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has also accused Ecto World and other companies of illegally distributing flavored disposable nicotine products and contributing to youth vaping.

The lobbying disclosures do not establish that Stone's work directly changed any federal enforcement or regulatory decision.