Cop resigns over alleged links to Bourbon crime ring

A Kentucky police officer has resigned following allegations that he had links to the leader of a criminal gang accused of stealing US$100,000 worth of Bourbon.

Last week nine members of a criminal gang were indicted over the theft of at least US$100,000 worth of Bourbon from top producers including Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey. They included Gilbert Curtslinger, who worked at Buffalo Trace and is believed to be the group’s ringleader.

Today it was reported that Kentucky police officer Michael Wells had resigned from his post following allegations that he had exchanged phone calls with Curtsinger.

Wells, 42, who has been a law enforcement officer for 23 years, was allegedly involved in a transaction for anabolic steroids with Curtsinger, according to reports by the Lexington Herald Leader. Authorities also discovered Wells had made calls to Curtsinger when search warrants were issued for the distillery workers’ home.

“During the course of this internal investigation, evidence was discovered which indicated that officer Wells may have been in violation of the policies of the city of Frankfort,” said Frankfort police chief Jeff Abrams. “After deliberation, officer Wells elected to resign his position with the Frankfort Police Department.”

Over a seven year period, the crime ring is believed to have stolen vast amounts of Bourbon, including rare Pappy Van Winkle and Wild Turkey Bourbon casks, with the recovered whiskey alone said to be worth at least $100,000.