Nine people indicted in theft of bourbon
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Nine people were indicted Tuesday on charges of spiriting away what Kentucky authorities say was more bourbon whiskey than one person could drink in a lifetime.
Prosecutors say the scheme led by rogue distillery workers lasted for years and involved tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of whiskey but began to unravel when whiskey barrels were discovered behind a Franklin County shed.
The theft targeted the Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey distilleries, they said, and included some of the most prestigious brands in the business, including pricey Pappy Van Winkle bourbon. It had been going on since 2008 or 2009, officials said.
Franklin County Commonwealth’s Attorney Larry Cleveland said last week the case involves “more than I could imagine one person drinking in a lifetime.”
Sheriff Pat Melton estimated the recovered whiskey alone is worth at least $ 100,000.
All nine defendants are charged with engaging in organized crime as members Evidence tags mark recovered bottles of bourbon during a news conference Tuesday in Frankfort, Ky. Two of them worked at the Buffalo Trace distillery and one worked at Wild Turkey, authorities said.
“You had some rogue employees who took advantage of both the trust of their companies and their knowledge of the security measures to steal the barrels and bottles of bourbon from these two distilleries,” said Zachary M. Becker, an assistant Franklin County prosecutor.
The indictments tied together the theft of heavy barrels of Wild Turkey whiskey earlier this year and the disappearance of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon dating back to 2008 or 2009.
of a criminal syndicate.