FRANKLIN CO., Ky. (WHAS11) – It's a bourbon heist that's gotten international attention and now Franklin County investigators say they've solved it and the case turned out to be bigger than they ever could have imagined.
Investigators have uncovered $100,000 of stolen bourbon. Sheriff's uncovered 75 cases of the exclusive Pappy Van Winkle, one barrel suspected to have previously contained Pappy Van Winkle, one steel barrel and 50 to 70 more cases of Eagle Rare and 17 oak barrels of Wild Turkey.
A grand jury indicted nine people in connection to the thefts of liquor from Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey.
The defendants include: 45-year-old Gilbert "Toby" Curtsinger, 43-year-old Julie M. Curtsinger, 49-year-old Mark S. Searcy, 37-year-old Ronnie Lee Hubbard, 42-year-old Dusty Adkins, 45-year-old Christopher L. Preston and 23-year-old Joshua T. Preston.
According to the indictment, the defendants were part of a criminal syndicate who trafficked steroids and liquor between 2008 and 2015.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, beginning in January 2008 and continuing through April 2015, Gilbert "Toby" Curtsinger led an organized criminal syndicate based at his residence in Franklin County, Ky. that participated in the theft and distribution of stolen bourbon and also imported and distributed anabolic steroids. Curtsinger, an employee of Buffalo Trace Distillery, and Mark "Sean" Searcy, an employee of Wild Turkey Distillery, worked together to steal and distribute bottles, cases and barrels of bourbon taken from both of their employers.
Curtsinger and Searcy worked in concert to steal barrels of bourbon from the Wild Turkey warehouse, according to police. Curtsinger utilized connections he had from playing softball throughout central Kentucky to sell the stolen barrels. Curtsinger was involved in numerous thefts of Pappy Van Winkle, as well as Eagle Rare bourbon.
Curtsinger also imported and distributed anabolic steroids, police said. He took orders for steroids in bulk, collected money and had them shipped to his address. Once they arrived, Curtsinger distributed the steroids to those who had ordered them.
Seven other individuals participated in the organized syndicate by taking an active role participating in theft or distribution of stolen bourbon, trafficking or distributing anabolic steroids, providing assistance or getting a benefit. They are Julie Curtsinger, Ronnie Lee Hubbard, Shawn Ballard, Dustin Adkins, Joshua Preston, Christopher Preston and Robert McKinney.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office said the investigation is ongoing and detectives are actively pursuing new leads in this case. More charges are anticipated.
Attorney General Jack Conway's statement regarding the stolen bourbon investigation can be seen here.
