April 18, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dean R. Argo
(334)
213-6330
ABC AGENTS ARREST TWO LOWNDES COUNTY MEN
AND DESTROY A STILL IN ONE OF THE COUNTY’S LARGEST MOONSHINE BUSTS
Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Agents, assigned
to the Moonshine Task Force, late yesterday raided a rural residence, arrested
two local men and seized nearly 200 gallons of moonshine. Agents called the
bust one of the Task Force’s largest seizures of illegal spirits ever in
Lowndes County.
Arrested
were Andrew Peak and Ronald Hardy. The raid took place at Peak’s home, located
off of County Road 7 in the Minter Community, near the Dallas County line. Lowndes
County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the scene to assist. Peak and Hardy
were transported to the Lowndes County Jail and have been charged with
possession of moonshine and possession of an illegal still.
Acting on a tip, Agents located what appeared to be an
illegal still in the woods near the Peak residence. Rather than moving immediately, the Task Force
set up a surveillance operation, which lasted several weeks. After Agents
observed the two men carrying numerous plastic gallon jugs from a nearby shed
into the home, they initiated the raid. The
still consisted of ten barrels and had been operational for some time. The
still was destroyed and approximately ten gallons of finished moonshine was
found.
Once
Hardy and Peak were in custody, Agents asked for and received permission from
Peak to search his home. Once inside,
Agents confiscated 183.5 gallons of illegal spirits, packaged in what appeared
to be brand new one-gallon, clear plastic milk jugs. The Moonshine Task Force’s
seizure of a total of 193.5 gallons of moonshine, estimated to have a street
value of about $5,800, is believed to be one of the largest in Lowndes County. Last
week, ABC Agents and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department Deputies destroyed two
stills and arrested two other men in a similar operation.
For more information about the stills and those
arrested, contact the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department at (334) 548-2222. Anyone with any information about
this still or any other illegal activity is encouraged to call the Alabama ABC
Board Hot-Line at 1-800-327-7341.