Kentucky man arrested in bourbon scam. Apple juice shipped instead of whiskey
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kentucky man arrested June 4 on a potential theft-by-deception charge.
- Customers said they received water, apple juice, or empty boxes instead of bourbon.
- At least four victims' transactions totaled about 97 bottles and $86,140.
A Madisonville man has been arrested for allegedly selling “high-end bourbon” on Facebook but shipping empty boxes, water or apple juice instead.
According to an arrest citation, James R. Willetts was arrested June 3 after a UPS investigator contacted the Madisonville Police Department on May 29 regarding a theft by deception scam involving three or more people engaging in organized crime. The investigator told police that Willetts was selling alleged allocated alcohol in bourbon groups on Facebook. Allocated bourbons are scarce; they are parceled out to stores in very limited supply.
Willetts and his associates were shipping boxes from the Madisonville UPS store, which had received complaints from multiple customers “saying that once they received the package, they discovered they were actually sent items such as water bottles and apple juice bottles,” rather than “high-dollar bottles of bourbon,” according to the police report.
The first suspicious incident occurred on Jan. 15, when Willetts shipped multiple empty boxes to a customer in Oklahoma for a shipping cost of $918, the police report said. The UPS worker said Willetts said he was shipping them “as a prank.”
In the last 16 months, Willetts had sent 15 other packages via UPS, police said.
The Madisonville police officer contacted possible fraud victims from the UPS receipts; so far at least four victims in Kentucky, Oklahoma and Florida had been found. Those transactions alone totaled approximately 97 collectible bottles “sold” for an estimated $86,140.
The specific whiskey brands were not identified in the police report and a police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to the police report, the officers obtained a search warrant and found multiple boxes and packaging material.
Willetts was arraigned on June 4 on one potentially felony charge of theft by deception, court records show. He was released on bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 12.
Buying and selling spirits from unlicensed individuals is illegal but common among private collectors, who often connect through private online bourbon and whiskey groups.
However, makers of highly sought-after brands such as Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton’s, Weller and other pricey limited release bottles have tried to discourage the practice because of the prevalence of scammers.
