Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Issues Statement on Federal Investigation into Wine and Spirits Suppliers

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following the U.S. Department of Justice's announcement today regarding non-prosecution agreements reached with four suppliers to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), Board Chairman Tim Holden and Board Members Mike Negra and Michael Newsome issued the following statement:

"The PLCB has been fully cooperative with the U.S. Attorney's investigations over the last two years, and these companies' admissions of unethical behavior occurring from 2000 to 2012 are a matter the PLCB is taking very seriously. The Board has called senior leadership of each the three companies still supplying wines and spirits to Pennsylvania into PLCB headquarters in the immediate future to discuss the settlements and determine how the agency and these suppliers can move forward preserving the highest ethical standards.

"Following investigations into former PLCB employees who violated state ethics standards, in 2014 the PLCB clarified and reissued its employee code of conduct and developed a new and separate code of conduct for wine and spirits vendors. Although we already had one of the strictest employee conduct codes in Pennsylvania state government, the unethical actions of a few cast a temporary shadow over the agency. As a result, the PLCB has embraced the opportunity to regularly remind employees of their ethical obligations and foster a culture of awareness and the highest standards of integrity among its employees and suppliers.

"The Board is disappointed at the action of all parties involved, who violated the trust of the agency and Pennsylvanians."

The agency's employee code of conduct and vendor code of conduct are publicly available at www.lcb.pa.gov.

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates more than 600 wine and spirits stores statewide, and licenses 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. Taxes and store profits – totaling $15.1 billion since the agency's inception – are returned to Pennsylvania's General Fund, which finances Pennsylvania's schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety initiatives, among other important public services. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state. For more information about the PLCB, visit www.lcb.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Elizabeth Brassell, 717-919-1905

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SOURCE Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board