The allegedly illegal operation at Red Hook Winery posed a “serious fire and explosive hazard,” New York State Liquor Authority officials said.
“The discovery of an illegal moonshine operation in the heart of Brooklyn is nothing short of shocking, given how easy and inexpensive it is to obtain a distiller’s license in New York State,” Christopher Riano, SLA counsel, said in a statement.
“This licensed manufacturer has not only demonstrated his utter insouciance for state and federal laws but has created a dangerous situation by operating a primitive, makeshift bootleg operation in one of the most densely populated areas of our state,” he added.
The SLA said the stills were illegally hooked up to the winery’s natural gas lines, and a “makeshift electrical box” with exposed wires was set up above the gas burners, “creating a serious fire and explosive hazard,”
In a statement, Snyder’s counsel said the winery had been collaborating with the Department of Agriculture on a project that involved producing grappa, a type of brandy.
The winery applied for the federal licenses it needed, but there had recently “been discussion between us and the agencies that issue the licenses,” it said in the statement.
“We are in the process of working with the regulatory agencies involved to clarify the regulatory requirements going forward and [make] sure that the correct licenses and permits are in place,” his counsel said.