Police seize ‘illegal’ wines sold by attorney

Police have seized more than 2,000 bottles of wine from the home of an attorney alleged to be in charge of an illegal mail order wine network.

According to Philly.com, 2,420 bottles of wines worth $150,000 were seized last week from the home of a Chester County attorney Arthur Goldman.

The 49-year-old is accused of selling rare wines, unavailable from the state-owned liquor monopoly, from his home in Malvern without a liquor license and of acquiring wines from a source other than a Pennsylvania liquor store.

Pennsylvania is one of 18 US states that operates a controlled monopoly of liquor with the state controlling the sale of alcoholic beverages preventing their sale without its permission.

A sting operation began in March 2013 when undercover police officers contacted Goldman by email asking to purchase wines to which Goldman responded with a 97 page list of available wines leading to a raid of his home.

Michael Noone, Chester County District’s first assistant attorney, said in a statement: “This was not some casual exchange of wine between friends.

“The defendant was running a highly organised, high-volume illegal business operation to make money.”

Pennsylvania state police seized 2,426 bottles of wine, a computer, a flash drive and numerous documents from Goldman’s home who was charged with selling, transporting and purchasing liquor from a source other than a Pennsylvania liquor store.

In a statement supplied to Philly.com, Goldman’s attorney, Peter E. Kratsa, said: “I have found Mr. Goldman to be a very engaging man even during this extremely trying time in his life.

“He is an accomplished professional.

“He is appropriately contrite.

“To the extent it is procedurally practical, we will continue to cooperate with the investigation.”