Last Updated on February 6, 2022 4:30 pm
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Clifton Ray Anderson, Jr., 47, of Boomer, N.C., appeared before U.S.Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer on Friday and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the UnitedStates of excise taxes on distilled liquor and to violate the laws of the United States, includingthe interstate transportation of untaxed liquor and possession of an unregistered still, announcedDena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Anderson’s co-conspirators, Roger Nance, 76, of Wilkesboro, N.C., Huie Kenneth Nicholson,75, of Hamptonville, N.C., and Gary Matthew Ray, 53, of Roaring River, N.C., previouslypleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge as Anderson. James Patterson, 71, of Dinwiddie,VA, previously pled guilty in a separately filed case in the Western District of North Carolina todistributing untaxed moonshine distilled by Anderson.
According to filed plea documents and Friday’s plea hearing, from April 2018 to September 2020,Anderson conspired with Nance, Nicholson, and Ray to operate and maintain an illegal still at abarn owned by Ray in Wilkes County. Anderson leased the barn from Ray for $500 per monthand used it to illegally produce more than 9,000 gallons of untaxed liquor, commonly known asmoonshine. Court records show that, during the relevant time period, Nance, Nicholson and Raytransported the moonshine across state lines to Patterson in Virginia for sale and distribution,which resulted in a total federal and state excise and sales tax loss of over $100,000.
Anderson was released on bond following his guilty plea. The conspiracy charge and the chargeof possession of an unregistered still each carry a maximum prison sentence of five years and$250,000 fine.
In making Friday’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the work of the Alcohol andTobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the Triad Municipal ABC Board for their investigation ofthe case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Savage, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is in charge ofthe prosecution
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