Renowned Wine Collector Accused Of Selling Counterfeit Wine

Rudy Kurniawan, a wine collector, was arrested in Los Angeles by the F.B.I. Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times

Renowned Wine Dealer Accused of Trying to Sell Counterfeits -- L.A. Times

Rudy Kurniawan had ascended to the upper reaches of the wine world on both coasts, renowned as much for his palate as for his eye, fixed often on the highest of high-end bottles.

His presence at auctions was constant, at events in Beverly Hills, and offerings at Sotheby’s in New York. His interest by itself was enough to drive prices at the top of the market.

And as his collection brought in millions, Mr. Kurniawan made a show of his own authenticity, offering major buyers an unconditional return policy — exceedingly rare in the industry — while attracting a clientele that included the billionaire William I. Koch.

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More News On The Arrest Of Renowned Wine Dealer Accused of Trying to Sell Counterfeits

Influential L.A.-area wine collector accused of fraud -- L.A. Times
L.A. Wine Collector Accused of Trying to Sell More Than $1 Million in Counterfeit Wine -- ABC News
No bail for wine collector accused of fraud in NY -- Wall Street Journal
Wine Collector Faces Federal Fraud Charges -- Time/AP
Millionaire accused of trying to sell fake wine for $1.3m -- Independent
Prosecutors: Prominent wine collector sold $1.3 million worth of counterfeit bottles -- MSNBC
California man accused of trying to sell fake wine -- Reuters
Collector Rudy Kurniawan accused of counterfeiting over $1.3 mil worth of wine -- CBS/AP
Rudy Kurniawan Arrested: Indonesian Millionaire & Wine Collector Accused Of Passing Fake Bottles -- Huffington Post
Rudy Kurniawan Arrested by FBI on Numerous Fraud Charges -- The Wine Cellar
FBI Arrests Wine Collector Rudy Kurniawan -- Wine Spectator

My Comment: If this is true .... what can I say but what a waste.