NORTH WILKESBORO, NC - A 69-year-old man from Wilkes County, North Carolina, is facing a string of charges after authorities say an illegal distillery he allegedly owned caused an explosion and structural fire on Monday, October 26, WLOS reported.
According to a press release from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the state’s Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE) was contacted by the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilkes County Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal about the fire in North Wilkesboro, which reportedly involved an untaxed distillery operation.
When ALE special agents investigated the scene, they found “an active 200-gallon illegal distillery,” along with approximately 1,800 gallons of mash and 161 gallons of untaxed moonshine. Agents seized the mash and the liquor.
Authorities arrested 69-year-old Billy Ray Anderson on several charges, including manufacturing a non-taxpaid alcoholic beverage, possession for sale of a non-taxpaid alcoholic beverage, possession of a non-taxpaid alcoholic beverage, possession of distillery equipment, possession of distillery ingredients, and allowing property to be used for the manufacture of a non-taxpaid alcoholic beverage.
Law enforcement officials have not said whether any charges directly linked to the explosion or fire are planned.
While Anderson is facing state charges, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed earlier this month to review whether the federal ban on home distilling is constitutional, SCOTUSblog reported.
Under current federal law, violating the ban on home distilling can bring a fine of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison. Lower courts in 2024 and earlier this year found the ban unconstitutional, ruling that it exceeds Congress’s power under the Taxing Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution.
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