Modesto Man Pleads Guilty in $870K Wine Heist Conspiracy

Davis Kiryakoz, 44, of Modesto, California, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to transport stolen goods, admitting his role in a high-stakes wine heist ring that ripped off over $870,000 in premium vintages from elite Northern California restaurants and wine shops. The plea, entered before U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose, exposes a brazen criminal operation that turned rare bottles into illicit cash across state lines.

Kiryakoz admitted to conspiring with others between March 2013 and January 2015 to steal and ship stolen wines across state borders, knowing full well the goods were taken illegally. Over $370,000 worth of the pilfered wine was shipped in interstate commerce, with Kiryakoz personally arranging shipments from Modesto, San Jose, and Los Gatos to a buyer in North Carolina. The operation targeted some of California’s most exclusive dining establishments, exploiting their cellars for profit.

The largest single theft occurred in the early hours of December 26, 2014, when Kiryakoz and accomplices looted 110 bottles from The French Laundry in Yountville, Calif., a haul valued at $549,447. Of those, 63 bottles worth over $200,000 were actually shipped to North Carolina in exchange for wire transfers. The sale collapsed when the buyer discovered the wine was stolen and refused to pay further—leaving a trail of digital breadcrumbs for investigators.

Kiryakoz also admitted to orchestrating the theft of 29 high-end bottles, valued at $32,000, from Alexander’s Steakhouse in Cupertino on November 8, 2014. Approximately 17 of those bottles—worth $25,550—were prepared for shipment. The operation wasn’t isolated: days after midnight on March 27, 2013, 142 bottles worth $290,000 were swiped from Fine Wines International in San Francisco. Kiryakoz admitted to shipping $127,755 worth from that batch alone.

Indicted on February 2, 2016, Kiryakoz faced one count of conspiracy to transport stolen goods under 18 U.S.C. § 371 and additional charges tied to the movement of stolen property. Today’s plea deal, prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Frey with assistance from Elise Etter, drops the additional counts in exchange for his guilty plea to the conspiracy charge. Kiryakoz remains free on release pending sentencing.

Sentencing is set for March 28, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. before Judge Freeman. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, with critical support from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department, San Francisco Police Department, Walnut Creek Police Department, and Carmel Police Department—proving that even the most refined crimes leave gritty fingerprints.

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