Chesapeake man charged in VA-NC moonshine investigation

13News ^ | 18 May 2009 | 13News

[BGHater]

'Larry Donnell Parker, 57, of Tournament Drive, faces 12 charges of sale of alcoholic beverages without a license, possessing and transporting untaxed whiskey and maintaining a common nuisance.'

Sorry brother, Gov't gotta get theirs.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

It’s all about the revenue and Uncle Sam’s cut of the profits.

[vivalaoink]

I feel safer already...

[Joe 6-pack]

Can’t blame the guy. He obviously has moonshine in his blood.

[Species8472]

I feel so much safer now!

[WayneS]

Oh well.

So much for the party at MY house, this weekend.

[BGHater]

Party?

I’m gonna need some pretty hard stuff for the next 4 yrs.

[BipolarBob]

I’m wondering, just how profitable this is? Are taxes that much?

[VA_Gentleman]

My sister and I both graduated from colleges in Virginia. When I graduated, I was given a diploma and a bible. When my sister graduated college, she was given a diploma and a bottle of moonshine. My dad often wonders which of us was better prepared for post-college life.

[SonOfDarkSkies]

I have never understood why, if these guys make a good product, don’t they just pay the d@mn taxes, get a license, and be done with it.

[BGHater]

I never understood why you would need a license, and just pay the ‘taxes’ at the end of the year.

[WayneS]

Yes.

[WayneS]

It’s not just the taxes. It’s licensing fees and over-regulation by our friends at ABC and BATFE.

Plus, many people STILL consider the distilling of one’s own spirits a fundamental individual right. And you can’t put a price on that.

[caver]

8 months of investigation. They probably spent several hundred thousand dollars trying to get a $45 product.

[ctdonath2]

The “entry fee” for paying taxes on making hard liquor are quite steep IIRC. Doesn’t sound like these guys were making enough to pay the initial tax.

Pity there isn’t a “personal use” exemption like for other fermented fluids. That would take a lot out of the crime incentive.

[JRandomFreeper]

I have never understood why, if these guys make a good product, don’t they just pay the d@mn taxes, get a license, and be done with it.

Because some people don't want the government interfering with or stealing what the good Lord and nature provides in the way of fermentable products.

Jesus's first recorded miracle was making wine for a wedding. Bet he didn't pay taxes, either.

/johnny

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Yes, very profitable. That’s why it’s been an issue all the way back to the Whiskey Rebellion.

[WayneS]

THAT would be reasonable. But when has the BATFE EVER been reasonable.

[matginzac]

VA entreprenuership (sp) at it’s best! Sic semper tyrannis....

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

I grew up surrounded by a bunch of old moonshiners. They had some good stories to tell.