Wine counterfeiter facing 11 years in prison

August 7, 2014

wine33A California seller of vintage wines is facing 11 years in prison after he was convicted of making as much as $20 million selling bogus bottles of wine. [CBS]

Rudy Kurniawan, who was convicted of wire and mail fraud in December, filled already used wine bottles with cheap wine, created a new label and sold his creations as a high-priced bottles of vintage wine. For example, Kurniawan auctioned off a phony double-magnum of 1947 Chateau Petrus for $30,000.

Another victim of Kurniawan’s fraud, a New York bank, is on the hook for several million in a loan they provided Kurniawan who used his bogus vintage wine collection as collateral

A federal judge is slated to sentence Kurniawan on Thursday. Prosecutors are asking for a sentence of at least 11 years while his defense attorney is saying the two years he has already spent in jail is enough.


Loading...
11 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Let’s see here -Al Moriarty is looking at five years in prison for a $20 million ponzi scheme, this guy is looking at five years for his $20 million scheme, and none of the victims will ever get their money back.


Sounds like crime really does pay. Five years in the joint for all that money? Not bad!


Another case of the Emperor’s New Clothes- like some modern art (eg the stripe painting), bottled water brands, and different vodka brands. It’s all based on perception, not reality.


Ripped off on a 30K bottle of wine ! LOL, LOL, LOL ………


I don’t know why I’m laughing at people who spend 30K on a bottle of wine, but I am. The fact that they got ripped off just makes it funnier.


Not saying that it wouldn’t be nice to be able to afford spending 30K on a bottle of wine but even if I could, I wouldn’t, not ever, of that I’m certain.


nor would we know the difference


Its the BS from appearance and BS from their mouth

Like a car sales man


I’ve never heard of counterfeit beer.


It’s called American beer.


Why are American beers like making love in a canoe ?


google this .


that’s the AA anthem, eh?


Eh!