Lawyer wants $125,000 worth of seized wine back from the police
A lawyer in Philadelphia was arrested for selling fine wines from his Main Line home without a license. He made it out with probation and community service. However, police want to destroy the 2,426 bottles of wine that were seized, according to reports.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Friday that Arthur Goldman's collection is worth an estimated $125,000 or more. The lot includes rare vintages not sold in state-run wine stores.
Police have seized nearly 2,500 bottles from Goldman after making undercover buys at his home in suburban Philadelphia. He has pleaded guilty to several related misdemeanors.
Officials seized it all and charged Goldman with misdemeanours of illegally selling, purchasing and possessing or transporting liquor.
"It's not like we're talking about cocaine or heroin here," said Tom Wark, executive director for the American Wine Consumer Coalition. "We're talking about a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2012 vintage."
Police said officers made several undercover buys, including at Goldman's home, where he showed them a wine cellar under construction, with floor-to-ceiling racks flanking a stone island. About 90 boxes of wine were stacked on the floor, police said.
State law calls for contraband liquor to be destroyed. However, defense lawyer Peter Kratsa say that the bulk of the seized wine is from Goldman's private collection and he wants it back.
