The authorities have charged Casey Alexander, who lives in the UK, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is accused of running three companies – Windsor Jones, Charles Winn and Vintage Whisky Casks – which obtained the phone numbers of elderly Americans and cold-called them.
Investigators said the companies used ‘aggressive and deceptive tactics’ to convince people to wire them money, promising them huge returns. Windsor Jones’ website, which lists the company’s address as Wilmington, Delaware, promises ‘the acquisition and sale of the world’s most illustrious and pleasurable Bordeaux investment grade fine wine.’
It lists Bordeaux First Growths and includes an embedded video featuring Master Sommelier Ronan Sayburn discussing the best vintages. He said the site used the video without his permission, and he was unaware of it until contacted by the press.
One victim, an 89-year-old from Ohio, wired more than $300,000 to invest in rare sweet wines and to pay for a purported storage locker in France, according to the court records.
Another victim sent $85,000 after being promised a potential return of up to 40% by selling the wines on in China.
The returns, however, were not forthcoming. When victims tried to retrieve their money, they were ignored or given a string of excuses. The 89-year-old Ohioan reported the matter to local police, who…
