An Alabama sewage plant was recently discovered to do more than just treat water.
On Thursday, police discovered an illegal winery at the Rainsville Waste Water Treatment Plant in Rainsville, Alabama.
The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that it received an anonymous tip about a possible illegal alcohol operation at a municipal building.
Officers contacted Rainsville Mayor Roger Lingerfelt, who allowed them to search the water treatment plant, which is owned and operated by the city.
During the search of the plant on Thursday, officers from the sheriff’s office, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the State Bureau of Investigation found the unauthorized winery.
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Rainsville city employee arrested for illegal winery operation at waste water treatment plant
Multiple local and state agencies are investigating.
Posted: Dec 18, 2020 4:54 PM
Updated: Dec 18, 2020 5:25 PM
Posted By: Ashley Thusius
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The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has charged a Rainsville city employee for an illegal winery operation at the waste water treatment plant.
Allen Maurice Stiefel, 62, of Fyffe is charged with unlawful possession of an illegally manufactured alcoholic beverage, a misdemeanor and use of official position for personal gain, which is a class B felony.
Allen Maurice Stiefel
Rainsville Mayor Roger Lingerfelt said Stiefel is suspended without pay pending the outcome of this investigation. He said he received a call from the sheriff’s office at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, saying they needed access to the Rainsville Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Arrest made in Rainsville wastewater winery case
Updated Dec 18, 2020;
Posted Dec 18, 2020
Authorities say a large amount of wine and other evidence were seized at the Rainsville Waste Water Treatment Plant, a building owned and operated by the City of Rainsville.
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Sheriff Nick Weldon announced this afternoon that Allen Maurice Stiefel, 62, of Fyffe, has been charged with unlawful possession of an illegally manufactured alcoholic beverage, which is a misdemeanor, and use of official position for personnel gain, a class B felony.
Earlier today, Rainsville Mayor Roger Lingerfelt spoke at a brief press conference to announce the plant supervisor had been placed on leave without pay while an investigation into the winery continued. Lingerfelt did not name the employee, but said the person has worked at the plant for about 15 years.
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From the Tribune staff reports
RAINSVILLE An illegal winery that law enforcement officials are saying may be the biggest seen in Alabama was discovered at the Rainsville Waste Water Treatment Plant in DeKalb County. Authorities said the winery appears to have been in operation at the sewage treatment plant for a long time.
DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Weldon said that on Thursday, December 17, at approximately 3 p.m., DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office investigators and narcotics unit agents uncovered a large illegal winery while following up on a tip.
“Earlier today, an anonymous tip was received stating that a possible illegal alcohol operation was taking place at a City of Rainsville municipal building,” Weldon said.