Two take plea deals in bourbon theft-ring case

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Two people have pleaded guilty in connection with a central Kentucky bourbon theft ring.

Franklin County Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Zach Becker told The State Journal that Michael Shaun Ballard and Ronnie Lee Hubbard pleaded guilty Wednesday to amended charges in exchange for cooperating in prosecution of other defendants in the case. WLEX-TV said the men pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to receive stolen property over $10,000.

The plea agreements say Ballard was a middle man for co-defendant Gilbert "Toby" Curtsinger and that Hubbard obtained full barrels of bourbon in an agreement with Curtsinger.

A Franklin County grand jury earlier indicted Crutsinger and others for engaging in organized crime by operating a syndicate of people who, authorities say, stole about $100,000 worth of bourbon from the Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey distilleries, sold it and also trafficked in anabolic steroids.

Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Zachary Becker told The Courier-Journal that the Buffalo Trace-made Pappy Van Winkle bourbon involved in this case could have been part of the larger, well-publicized "Pappygate" from 2013, but he added that "is more for Buffalo Trace to figure out and their inventory issues."

He added, "When it comes to us, we were able to determine that there was a certain, very large amount of Pappy Van Winkle stolen by members of this syndicate, by Mr. Curtsinger and then thereafter sold to various individuals."

Besides the racketeering charge, Curtsinger, 45, is charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, four counts of trafficking in a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia while in possession of a firearm.

The prosecutor said that the syndicate's activity has been going on since 2008 with some of the defendants involved at different periods.

The thefts included Wild Turkey, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare and other unidentified products, Becker said. At least 18 whiskey barrels were involved, said Becker, including various varieties of Wild Turkey and at least five barrels of Russell's Reserve. Besides the barrels at the Curtsingers' home, others have been recovered from Laurel, Scott and Harrison counties.

There were 25 bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon varieties in evidence and information on more than 20 Van Winkle variety cases, 50 to 70 cases of Eagle Rare bourbon also made at Buffalo Trace, nine more stainless steel barrels of bourbon and other wooden barrels, Becker said.

Becker said he believes syndicate participants, particularly the distillery workers, "knew what the security precautions were and knew how to bypass them and took advantage of their trust from" the distilleries.

The missing cases of the 20-year Pappy — one of the hardest-to-get varieties of Kentucky's bourbon — were worth more than $25,000, not including the nine cases of 13-year-old Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye whiskey.

Pappy is one of the nation's most sought-after bourbons.

Adding to the mix: authorities said much of the bourbon seized will be destroyed after the case is complete, under state law, because its whereabouts and contents and handling could not be vouched for to consumers.

C-J reporter Gregory A. Hall and the Associated Press contributed to this story.