Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Wine Fraudster Gets 10 Years For Selling Millionaires Fake Vino
By
Nell Casey
Published Aug 7, 2014
Modified Aug 7, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Nell Casey
Published Aug 7, 2014
Modified Aug 7, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Fraudster Rudy Kurniawan, who'd been convicted of selling counterfeit wines to wealthy oenophiles late last year, was finally sentenced today. The Times reports that Kurniawan was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his crimes, which included selling fake bottles of rare wines "worth" $1.3 each to people like Bill Koch. Finally, some justice for billionaires.
In addition to the hard time, Kurniawan was also forced to hand over $20 million and pay restitution to the tune of over $28 million. Beneficiaries of said restitution could include Quest Software founder David Doyle, Univision CFO Andrew Hobson and others. Not receiving restitution will be Bill Koch, who reached an out-of-court settlement of $3 million before sentencing. From the Times: "Mr. Koch, who has long campaigned against wine fraud, appeared on the stand last year and testified that he 'got conned, got cheated' by Mr. Kurniawan’s schemes."
There's no information about where Kurniawan will serve out his sentence—could it be at a white collar crimes institution where he could (in theory) run into former clients? Wouldn't want to be a witness at that toilet booze cocktail party. Awkward! Following the completion of his sentence, Kurniawan could also be deported to Indonesia, where he retains citizenship.
Tagged
Rudy Kurniawan
wine
wine fraud
Nell Casey
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .