Feds Charge Big-Time NorCal Wine Distributor Execs In Pay-for-Placement Scheme at Stores Run By Safeway Owner

"top executives from the alcohol distribution firm of Southern Glazer's have been charged with bribery in numerous schemes to determine which wines were placed more prominently on Albertson's shelves. Per the Chronicle these alleged kickbacks included included prepaid gift cards, luxury items, consumer electronics and even cash, as well as travel expenses like airfare, hotel stays, expensive meals and golfing trips."

"A trip to Maui for an Albertson's wine buyer and his spouse, for instance, was funded with a $30,000 invoice for a seminar' a year earlier."

"If convicted, the defendants face prison senttences of up to 20 years, and fines of up to $250,000 for each bribery charge."

Southern Glazer's, a major alcohol distributor, faces bribery charges for allegedly providing kickbacks to Albertson's wine buyers to secure prominent shelf placement. The alleged schemes involved prepaid gift cards, luxury items, electronics, cash, and expensive travel including airfare, hotels, meals, and golf trips. One notable example involved a $30,000 invoice labeled as a seminar that funded a Maui trip for an Albertson's buyer and spouse. Both Southern Glazer's and Albertson's claim involved employees were terminated. Defendants face potential prison sentences up to 20 years and fines up to $250,000 per bribery charge.

Read at sfist.com