eBay Auction Leads to Illegal Still in Virginia

Hint for you moonshiners out there: Don't advertise your still on eBay. This is from a VA Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (AKA, the revenuers) press release dated March 10:

EBay Leads Special Agents to Still Bust

COLLINSVILLE – Special agents of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) seized three stills yesterday as part of an undercover investigation into the illegal possession of distilling apparatus.

Daniel Scott Hokanson, 46, of Collinsville, is expected to be indicted on illegal possession of distilling apparatus, also know as a still, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

As part of the investigation, ABC agents monitoring eBay, an online auction site, located an auction for a still, which is typically used to manufacture moonshine and is illegal to possess in Virginia. Undercover agents conducted a controlled buy of the still. Once the still was purchased, agents searched the suspect’s residence where two additional stills were found. One still was operational but inactive and the other still was partially constructed.

“ABC agents routinely monitor the Internet as part of investigations into illegal activities involving alcohol,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Goodman. (emphasis added)

You've been warned.