Dover Woman Busted in Unlicensed Wine Operation
State of DE - A Dover woman is facing multiple charges after state investigators say she ran an unlicensed wine business out of Delaware. Margaret Munro, 60, was arrested by the Delaware Division of Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) in connection with Pale Moon Wine LLC.
The investigation kicked off after Maryland's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission tipped off DATE. They noticed Pale Moon Wine products being sold at businesses in Maryland. That tip led investigators straight back to Delaware.
Once DATE dug in, they found the wine was being made right in the First State. The issue was Pale Moon Wine LLC didn't have the proper licenses to manufacture or sell alcohol at all.
On June 10, officers executed a search warrant at the Pale Moon Wine LLC location in Dover, Delaware. What they found was a serious amount of product and equipment.
Officers seized seven 220-liter plastic barrels filled with various wine flavors, along with one 200-liter barrel. They also found 127 five-gallon buckets of wine and 63 boxes of bottled wine ready to go.
On top of that, investigators took three corking machines and other equipment used to produce the wine. It paints a picture of a fairly large operation.
Munro was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 7 following the search. She faces four charges connected to the case.
Those charges include Selling Alcoholic Liquor Without a License and Illegal Manufacture of Alcoholic Liquor. She's also charged with Illegal Storage of Alcoholic Liquors and Misleading the Public by Means of Signs or Advertisements.
Munro was released after posting $300 unsecured bail. Her case will now move forward through the Delaware court system.
This case is a reminder that alcohol production and sales come with strict rules, even for small operations. Licensing exists to protect consumers and ensure products are made safely.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
