Chris Walker

The idea seemed straight out of a Scorsese film. But the feds weren't the only ones to consider an organized crime angle. Mark Urban, the state prosecutor who was scheduling Jack's deposition, didn't want me to record my phone call with him. But he did email me this recollection.

The idea seemed straight out of a Scorsese film. But the feds weren't the only ones to consider an organized crime angle. Mark Urban, the state prosecutor who was scheduling Jack's deposition, didn't want me to record my phone call with him. But he did email me this recollection.

Quote, there were some rumors floating around that Jack Licciardi and some of the people involved in the fraud had organized crime connections. Unquote. Maybe this was just stereotyping, all these Italian families and the wine business. But then again, Urban knew that a homicide of this nature would start as a local police matter.

Quote, there were some rumors floating around that Jack Licciardi and some of the people involved in the fraud had organized crime connections. Unquote. Maybe this was just stereotyping, all these Italian families and the wine business. But then again, Urban knew that a homicide of this nature would start as a local police matter.

So he contacted Stockton PD to let them know that he would be sending over the financial information he'd collected on the family business. He also passed along some important tips. The first, that Jack's son, Michael, had been indicted by the federal government and was under active investigation for fraud. And the second, that Jack had planned to testify in Michael's case.

So he contacted Stockton PD to let them know that he would be sending over the financial information he'd collected on the family business. He also passed along some important tips. The first, that Jack's son, Michael, had been indicted by the federal government and was under active investigation for fraud. And the second, that Jack had planned to testify in Michael's case.

And while no one knew exactly what Jack had planned to say, the question hung like a dark cloud. Perhaps someone, or someones, wanted to protect themselves from Jack's testimony. I'm Chris Walker, your guide in this series about the largest grape fraud in U.S.

And while no one knew exactly what Jack had planned to say, the question hung like a dark cloud. Perhaps someone, or someones, wanted to protect themselves from Jack's testimony. I'm Chris Walker, your guide in this series about the largest grape fraud in U.S.

history, the powerful family at the center of it, and how a stunning sequence of betrayals triggered the fall of a California dynasty and forever changed the way we make wine in America. From Fox Office Inc., this is Blood Vines. When local newspapers and television stations first reported Jack Licciardi's murder, some noted that he'd been involved in the wine business. But only in passing.

history, the powerful family at the center of it, and how a stunning sequence of betrayals triggered the fall of a California dynasty and forever changed the way we make wine in America. From Fox Office Inc., this is Blood Vines. When local newspapers and television stations first reported Jack Licciardi's murder, some noted that he'd been involved in the wine business. But only in passing.

Given Jack's role as a behind-the-scenes dealmaker, the press didn't capture his importance to the wine industry. There was no broadsheet eulogy for California's godfather of grapes. But that also meant that reporters missed a more important concern— his proximity to the grape fraud, because that was getting plenty of press. The Washington Post was even calling it the Great Grape Scandal.

Given Jack's role as a behind-the-scenes dealmaker, the press didn't capture his importance to the wine industry. There was no broadsheet eulogy for California's godfather of grapes. But that also meant that reporters missed a more important concern— his proximity to the grape fraud, because that was getting plenty of press. The Washington Post was even calling it the Great Grape Scandal.

By the time of Jack's death in 1991, it had become clear that the practice of grape mislabeling extended far beyond Michael and the Bavaros. Investigators had discovered new criminal rings, wineries and growers operating separately from the players in our story, but up to the same shenanigans. This included a medium-sized winery in the San Joaquin Valley run by Angelo Papagni.

By the time of Jack's death in 1991, it had become clear that the practice of grape mislabeling extended far beyond Michael and the Bavaros. Investigators had discovered new criminal rings, wineries and growers operating separately from the players in our story, but up to the same shenanigans. This included a medium-sized winery in the San Joaquin Valley run by Angelo Papagni.

And prosecutors hinted at even more indictments coming down the pipeline, indictments naming big players and threatening stiff penalties. For instance, the Bavaros, they were facing up to 130 years in prison and a $6 million fine.

And prosecutors hinted at even more indictments coming down the pipeline, indictments naming big players and threatening stiff penalties. For instance, the Bavaros, they were facing up to 130 years in prison and a $6 million fine.

Investigators found evidence that they'd scammed not just Delicato Vineyards, but Charles Krug, Robert Mondavi, and Sebastiani Vineyards, all with fraudulent grape deliveries. And then there was Michael. He also faced decades under lockup and a seven-figure fine. And that was just on the federal level. If the cases went its way, the state of California had designs to collect millions in penalties.

Investigators found evidence that they'd scammed not just Delicato Vineyards, but Charles Krug, Robert Mondavi, and Sebastiani Vineyards, all with fraudulent grape deliveries. And then there was Michael. He also faced decades under lockup and a seven-figure fine. And that was just on the federal level. If the cases went its way, the state of California had designs to collect millions in penalties.

The lawmen had thrown down the gauntlet. As the Washington Post quipped, We doubt even the French would go that far. So the question was, how far would people go to avoid that kind of punishment? You already know that Michael and the Bavaros initially tried to lie their way out of trouble. But would one of them have gone further? Like, say, killing a witness?

The lawmen had thrown down the gauntlet. As the Washington Post quipped, We doubt even the French would go that far. So the question was, how far would people go to avoid that kind of punishment? You already know that Michael and the Bavaros initially tried to lie their way out of trouble. But would one of them have gone further? Like, say, killing a witness?