A large illegal distillery and several hundred gallons of moonshine were seized and five people charged in Wilkes County as a result of an investigation initiated by Triad ABC Law Enforcement Division.
Agents and Wilkes Sheriff’s Detectives executed search warrants at 417 Brewer Baldwin Ridge Road in the Hays community and at 587 Dellaplane Road in the Antioch community on Jan. 20.
Officers found a large active liquor still inside a building, several hundred gallons of non-tax paid moonshine and several thousand gallons of mash at the Brewer Baldwin Ridge Road location. He said the still was destroyed and some of the non-tax paid liquor kept as evidence.
Officers found more moonshine and an older copper still that no longer was active at the Dellaplane Road location.
The searches were conducted after officers received a tip in May about a possible non-tax paid liquor still on Rock Creek Church Road in Hays.
Facing charges are Bruce Church, 69, of Roaring River, Randy Howell, 65, of North Wilkesboro and Phillip Church, 46, of Roaring River. Each are charged with one count each of manufacturing liquor with no permit, felony attempt to evade/defeat tax and conspiracy to commit a felony. The Churches and Lester McBride, 68, are also charged with one count each of possession/sale of non-tax paid alcoholic beverage. McBride has a Columbus, Ohio, address but has been staying at a residence in North Wilkesboro.
McBride is also charged with keeping a disorderly house and possessing alcoholic beverage with no permit in connection with him being in charge of a “drink house”, said the Triad ABC spokesman.
Howell is also charged with resist, obstruct and delay an officer. Pamela McBride, 61, of North Wilkesboro is charged with possessing alcoholic beverage with no permit.
Story: Wilkes Journal Patriot