Livermore Woman Indicted In Widespread Bribery Scheme To Place Wines In CA Grocery Stores: DOJ

LIVERMORE, CA — In a sweeping, years-long bribery scheme, a Livermore woman is among nine executives suspected of disguising luxury perks as business expenses to promote a major U.S. distributor, according to an indictment filed this week.

A federal grand jury indicted former executives of Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits for their suspected role in a years-long bribery and obstruction scheme to get prime shelf space for the beverage giant at grocery stores across California.

The former employees of the company, which has a major Northern California facility in Novato (listed in court documents as Distributor-1) were identified as Michael Dehdashtian, 48, of Lake Forest; Ryan Dow, 40, of Upland; Stephen Magliocco, 47, of Trabuco Canyon; Loratina "Tina" Muscara, 64, of Livermore; and Adrian Ruiz, 54, of Corona.

The indictment, filed in a Northern California District Court, also includes Michael Sean Salene, 60, a wine executive who most recently worked for Roots Run Deep Winery in Napa, according to reports.

In addition to the March 3 indictment, wine suppliers Matthew Adler in Walnut Creek and Bryan Barnes in Los Angeles County, faced similar charges in 2025, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Adler left Deutsch Family in 2021 to work for the Napa-based wine firm Demeine Estates.

Federal Charges

Between 2016 and 2024, former employees of a company identified as Distributor-1 are suspected of conspiring to offer grocery store chain employees golf trips, exercise equipment, prepaid gift cards worth up to $1,000 each, as well as luxury and designer watches and purses in exchange for top shelf space.

Federal prosecutors say they also disguised the payments as legitimate business expenses, using approved vendors and fake invoices to conceal the giveaways.

Salene, is suspected of bribing the head alcohol buyer of a national grocery chain that operates about 300 stores in California, according to an indictment filed this week. Salene is also suspected of lying to investigators and falsifying invoices to cover up the scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District. Salene was charged with Travel Act bribery and making false statements.

The indictments stem from investigations by the IRS-Criminal Investigation unit and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Grocery chains typically have limited shelf space for alcohol, especially in high-traffic categories like Napa wines or premium spirits.

The brands that secure those slots can see hefty sales boosts. So competition to get distributors, which are de facto gatekeepers, to promote their brands is fierce. Napa producers, in turn, depend heavily on grocery and retail placement to get bottles seen beyond tasting rooms.

Incentives that can sway a retailer’s purchasing decisions are illegal. These can include cash payments, luxury gifts, prepaid gift cards, and travel perks. Hidden reimbursements disguised as marketing expenses are also illegal. It is also illegal to use invoices to pay for such perks, according to federal authorities.

A California-Wide Scandal With Local Hubs

The scope of the case has pulled in multiple levels of the industry, stretching across California, including Walnut Creek, Livermore, Oakland, Pleasanton, Napa’s wine industry, multiple Southern California cities, and even Idaho.

Court documents do not name the companies involved in the scheme. But Adler and Barnes’ employer was Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits, which produces or imports some of the most popular U.S. wine brands such as Josh Cellars and Yellow Tail, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The grocery chain involved was identified in reports as Albertsons in Northern California and its Vons subsidiary in Southern California. Albertsons has corporate offices in Pleasanton and headquarters in Boise, Idaho. Vons has seven stores in L.A. and more nationally.

An Albertsons representative said a statement to CBS News Bay Area that the chain is aware of the allegations and cooperating with authorities, adding that, "The behavior in question was wholly inconsistent with our policies, and we do not, and will not, tolerate it. We expect all associates to adhere and fully comply with all laws and regulations and all company policies."

Florida-based Southern Glazer told CBS News Bay Area that they have cooperated with relevant authorities and will continue to do so.The group charged in Tuesday's indictment is scheduled to appear in federal court in Oakland on March 25.

Each of the March 3 indictments include charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, obstruction of investigations, falsification of records, and making false statements. Convictions could mean up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 per count, depending on the charge.