Website Tip results in seizure of $1MM of JD

[bluesbassdad]

Chuck,

If recent history is any guide, one or more people will go to prison for perjury or obstruction, and the orginal "crime" will go unpunished.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[TNbourbon]

A disclaimer -- this is as much gossip as information, but from sources I know to know the principles :

• The owner of the $10,000 1914 bottle of Jack Daniel's is one Jamie Martin of Australia, reputedly a wealthy collector who probably spends more than that in a month on JD memorabila; Mr. Martin was negotiating with at least two potential buyers during the late-October JD barbeque in Lynchburg, and could have sold it had he been willing to give as little as $500 on price (the bottle apparently was left behind in anticipation of eventual sale -- an acquaintance of mine claims he advised him to sell for the price offered); the talk about the negotiations perhaps drew the notice of Tennessee ABC investigators, as Lynchburg exists in a 'dry' county;
  
• among the confiscated bottles were some not properly sealed, but signed by Jimmy Bedford. This has led to speculation that Jimmy was somehow involved in illegal activity -- but anyone who knows Jimmy realizes he signs everything put in front of him. More likely is the rumored involvement of a Tennessee Squires Association official named Fanning -- known to accompany, for example, Mr. Martin at auction events, and who presumably has access to JD's bottling operation.
  
• I can attest that some individuals (who are not named "ME"!) are attempting to procure the confiscated goods via connections to state legislators. As Tennessee is a notoriously upstanding and honest state, I doubt that anything will come of it. However, I will nonetheless be relieved to see the bottles disposed of publicly, whatever their final disposition.
  

[squire]

Publicly, certainly, of course, nothing here to see folks, just move on.

Squire

[bigtoys]

being a TN Squire for over 20 yrs, I'm curious as to how this plays out. maybe I'll have to go down and camp on my "plot" of land.

[TNbourbon]

An indictment handed to down to "Sully's" owner, Randy Piper. And officials (legislators, mostly, who see money) starting to have second thoughts about pouring the stuff out:

http://www.wsmv.com/news/15165387/detail.html

[cowdery]

This continues to be a fascinating story, with meaning for many here. Thank you, Tim, for keeping us up-to-date.

My favorite part is this line from Piper's lawyer: "He was not selling whiskey, he was selling collectibles," Fraley said. "There are people on (online auction site) eBay every day selling it."

[TNbourbon]

Well, the governor and legislature seem to be on board against pouring the confiscated Jack Daniel's out:

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008303110008

Though awkwardly stated, I think the second graf means that only Tennessee retailers will be able to buy it, though (since TN retailers aren't allowed to sell online currently), which will tamp down potential prices, unless some retailers recruit 'angels'. Maybe a good thing for me...:grin:

[cowdery]

This is what I love most about laws and government. There hasn't been a trial yet, which is necessary to establish definitively that the bottles are actually subject to forfeiture, and the state is already figuring out how it's going to cash in and they probably have already spent the money too.

[TNbourbon]

As I suspected, this will never come to trial, and the state's sole interest is monetary:

"...Crawford would not discuss details of the negotiations, but Fraley said the state wants (Piper) to relinquish some of the whiskey..."

They're looking for a way to cover prosecution costs, and then some.

See the whole story here:

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080526/NEWS03/80526008

[cigarnv]

I suspect any of the ebay sellers of spirits could fall victim to this same situation....

[HighTower]

My thoughts go out to Jamie.

It was recently discovered that he has mouth and throat cancer. He just started his second week of Chemo and radiation, and seems to be in good spirits.

I don't think he has heard anything about the 18yo JD from 1914, but at the moment, it would be the last thing on his mind.

If anyone's drinking Jack, have one for Jamie.:toast:

Scott

[cowdery]

As I suspected, this will never come to trial, and the state's sole interest is monetary:

"...Crawford would not discuss details of the negotiations, but Fraley said the state wants (Piper) to relinquish some of the whiskey..."

They're looking for a way to cover prosecution costs, and then some.

See the whole story here:

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080526/NEWS03/80526008

Thanks for keeping us up-to-date on this, you old digester, you.

[barturtle]

I wonder if there's anyway to apply First Sale Doctrine to this. Though it technically applies to books/video/software copyrights, it seems that it would make sense to apply it to tax collection of this type.