Nine Arrests in Huge Bourbon Theft

 April 21, 2015 – Franklin County, KY Sheriff Pat Melton announced the indictment of nine suspects in the theft of Kentucky bourbon.  Among the nine were two employees of Buffalo Trace Distillery and one from Wild Turkey.

The investigation has been going on since 2008 and included the headline grabbing heist of valuable Pappy Van Winkle bourbon in October 2013, some of which has been recovered.

So far 17 barrels filled with bourbon, 20 cases of Pappy Van winkle and one stainless steel barrel of Eagle Rare have been recovered.  At a press conference the Sheriff said, “We didn’t leave any rock unturned.”  He also said his team has worked 10 to 18 hours a day for six weeks straight. It is possible there is more stolen bourbon yet to be discovered.

The break in the case came when deputies found five barrels of Wild Turkey behind a shed belonging to Gilbert Curtsinger who worked on the dock at Buffalo Trace. A full wooden barrel weighs 500 pounds.  Curtsinger was named a ringleader and his wife, Julie, was also indicted.  She is not a distillery worker.

The stolen bourbon is worth tens of thousands of dollars.  Although there was more bourbon than a person could drink in a lifetime, it is not believed any of it was sold at retail.  However, investigators do have statements from buyers admitting they purchased multiple cases of Pappy Van Winkle, paying far less than full retail.  Investigators estimate the criminal ring probably made about $100,000 since 2008.