COLUMBUS, Ohio -William D. Merckle, 57, of Corning, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to violating the Federal Alcohol Administration Act and distributing hydrocodone.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and officials from the United States Treasury Department Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and Ohio Department of Safety Ohio Investigative Unit announced the plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.
The Federal Alcohol Administration Act establishes national rules governing the distribution, production and importation of alcohol.
According to an affidavit filed in support of criminal charges, the Ohio Department of Public Safety Ohio Investigative Unit received a complaint in October 2015 that Merckle was selling illegal moonshine at the local flea market known as “Reinersville Trader Days."
Investigators then witnessed Merckle selling moonshine from his camper at Reinersville Trader Days. At this time, Merckle stated he owned Straitsville Special Moonshine, LLC in New Straitsville, Ohio, but that this moonshine is made “on the side" at his house.
In his plea agreement, Merckle agreed that he had sold oxycodone or hydrocodone on three occasions in 2016 and 2017. He also agreed that he had unlawfully sold moonshine on eight occasions from 2015 through 2017.
Some of the moonshine purchased by the undercover agents was contaminated with copper, which is consistent with home distilling. At least one batch had an abv percentage of 71.8.
The spirits were typically sold to the agents in glass quart jars and were not properly sealed or labeled as required by the Federal Alcohol Administration Act.
Merckle pleaded guilty to one count of distributing controlled substances and one count of selling distilled spirits in an improper container.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by law enforcement, and Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, who is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
