Buffalo Trace security guard charged in theft case

A former security guard for Buffalo Trace has admitted taking payment to “turn a blind eye” as barrels were stolen from the distillery by the suspected ringleader of a Bourbon crime ring.

Leslie Wright, former Buffalo Trace security guard, has pleaded guilty in a high profile theft case

Leslie Wright, 34, is the tenth person to be charged with involvement in the case, which allegedly involved the theft of more than US$100,000 worth of Bourbon.

In April this year, a grand jury in Frankfort, Kentucky, charged nine people with their involvement in the case, accusing them forming a criminal syndicate to lift and sell supplies over several years with the help of workers at the Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey Bourbon distilleries.

The group was also charged for improperly obtaining and selling steroids.

Police uncovered the syndicate, reportedly formed by people who knew each other through softball, after five stolen barrels of Wild Turkey Bourbon worth US$30,000 were discovered in the backyard of Buffalo Trace worker Gilbert Thomas Curtsinger – thought to be the “ring leader” of the group.

This theft has not been linked with US$26,000 worth of Pappy Van Winkle taken from the Buffalo Trace Distillery – long thought by police and distillery workers to have been an “inside job”.

Mark Searcy, who worked at the Wild Turkey Distillery, was also named among the list of accused.

Security guard Wright has admitted to receiving a total of US$800 to allow the theft 11 stainless steel barrels of whiskey, The Courier-Journal reports.

The publication also reports that Wright claimed she was paid US$500 by Curtsinger in December so he could pilfer six barrels, which he wanted for scrap metal. She was paid an additional US$300 by Curtsinger the following week to allowing him to steal five more barrels.

She added that the thefts occurred during public ghost tours at the distillery.

Two members of the accused group have pleaded guilty to the amended charge of conspiracy to receive stolen property and will now work with authorities in the prosecution of other defendants in the case.

Veteran police officer Michael Wells recently resigned from his post for allegedly exchanging phone calls with Curtsinger.

The case continues.