TTB investigation source says Justice Dept. dropping ball on Jeff Hill Napa Valley grape fraud case

According to TTB personnel close to the case, federal prosecutors appear to have fumbled the wire & mail fraud case against Jeffry Hill.

 

“Disgusting…disappointing,”a senior TTB official told Wine Industry Insight concerning the long delays in the case.

 

Hill has been charged with perpetuating a wide-ranging Napa Valley grape and wine fraud case so extensive that it called into question the integrity of America’s top wine region (In Vino Veritas. In Napa, Deceit).

 

The TTB sources for this article first contacted Wine Industry Insight following its  Sept. 6, 2017 article — Is Grape Fraud OK With Feds? — and said fraud “was not okay” with TTB.

 

Wine Industry Insight has contacted federal prosecutors and Hill’s court-appointed lawyers multiple times but has received no response. TTB has replied it would have no official comment.

 

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Also in this 993-word premium article

• Years of delay

• TTB fears “slap on the wrist” despite previous felonies

• Hill case a big contrast to quick action in Charles Banks/Tim Duncan case

• TTB confirms Initial 19 charges reported by Wine Industry Insight

• Secrecy rules the courtroom

Court Documents available for premium subscribers

• Last unsealed filing indicating plea deal

• Jeff Hill conditions for release

• Jeff Hill bail document

• Jeff Hill Federal indictment

• Jeff Hill TTB Investigation

• Jeff Hill felony insurance fraud conviction (2008), reduced to misdemeanor after probation (2010)

Previous Wine Industry Insight Coverage

• Jeffry Hill may have entered a plea deal in federal wire and mail fraud case

• Jeffry Hill sanitizing web reputation as plea deal grows likely in federal felony case

• Feds charge Jeffry Hill with wire & mail fraud in Napa Valley vintage and appellation fiddling scheme

• Jeff Hill Pleads Not Guilty To Grape Theft

• HillWineCo: More Bulk Wine Discovered & Up For Grabs

• Hill Wine Co: The Pink Bunny Of Wine Financial Disasters

• Hill Wine Debacle: Napa Valley Cab: $2.93/Bottle, $5/Gal

• Hill Wine Co Bankruptcy Now In Chapt 7 Liquidation

• Hill Wine Co – Fireworks Likely In Today’s Liquidation Hearing

• Hill Wine Co Rushing Toward Liquidation

• Security Of Grower Liens Uncertain In Hill Winery Bankruptcy

• TTB Carpet Bombs Hill Wine Co With Felony Allegations

• Confused Hill Wine Co Chapter 11 Stumbles Forward

• Hill Wine Co Bankruptcy Snares Big Names, Big Time