Federal prosecutors say wine makers and their allies used Super Bowl tickets, first‑class travel, luxury car rentals and a “bank” of prepaid gift cards to influence which bottles ended up on California grocery shelves. The allegations center on an Alameda County event planner who prosecutors say helped conceal payments with falsified invoices and on a string of industry figures now charged or convicted in related cases.
As reported by San Francisco Chronicle, prosecutors on Wednesday charged Jessica Goebel, owner of Danville‑based J. Go Events, alleging she ordered millions of dollars in gift cards and arranged perks — including Super Bowl tickets, first‑class airfare, luxury car rentals, spa treatments and concert passes — that were used to reward distributor staff and retail buyers. The Chronicle says the filings identify the distributor as SGWS (widely understood to be Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits) and allege Goebel created an online portal that let recipients view and spend balances from those “banks.” As detailed by the Chronicle, two Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits executives pleaded guilty earlier this year in a related $360,000 bribery scheme. The filings also say one person who used those bank funds was Patrick Briones, a former grocery wine buyer who pleaded guilty on Oct. 9.
How The Three‑Tier Rules Are Supposed To Work
Federal and state rules are built around a three‑tier system meant to keep producers, distributors and retailers separate so market decisions are not swayed by direct payments. According to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, that structure is intended to protect competition and ensure transparent accounting; prosecutors say the alleged payments and false invoices subverted those safeguards.
Who’s Facing Charges And What Comes Next
The complaint names Goebel as at least the fifth person charged this year; other connected cases include pleas by Matthew Adler and Bryan Barnes in the spring and guilty pleas or charges against contractors and retail buyers tied to several chains. Prosecutors have filed counts including commercial bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States, and the matters are active in federal court in Oakland. Some defendants have already entered guilty pleas and moved into sentencing or hearing schedules this fall, while others have not yet entered pleas and face pending court dates.
What It Could Mean For Shoppers And Smaller Wineries
If the allegations are proven, they could mean that shelf space and prominent displays at major chains were steered by money and perks rather than buyer expertise, putting smaller producers at a competitive disadvantage. The case adds to scrutiny of marketing practices in the wine trade and could prompt retailers, distributors and suppliers to tighten internal accounting and oversight.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers will meet in court in the months ahead as the cases proceed, and filings may reveal further details about who else was involved and how widespread the conduct was. We will track filings and court dates as they become public.