Moonshine Operations in NEMS: Closed for Business

Northeast Miss., – (PRESS RELEASE) On June 5, 2013, Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Enforcement agents made arrests in unrelated events in Batesville and Corinth.

In Batesville, Toby Helms, 36, 322-C Highway 51 Batesville, was charged with Possession of Non-Tax Paid whiskey (moonshine). Helms was booked at the Panola County Jail. Batesville Police notified ABC Enforcement after observing what was believed to be an illicit distillery at this location. ABC obtained a search warrant for the premises resulting in the seizure of a small, beer keg type distillery. Six (6) quarts of moonshine were seized and taken as evidence.

In Corinth, Roger Lee Sharp, 52, and his son Robert Trent Sharp, 27, of 370 CR 750, Corinth, were arrested. The elder Sharp was charged with Possession of an Illegal Distillery (felony), Possession of More than an Ounce of Marijuana (felony), and Possession of Liquor (Moonshine) in a Dry County. He was booked at the Alcorn County Jail under a $10,000 bond.

His son, Robert Trent Sharp, was charged with Possession of an Illegal Distillery (felony), and Possession of Less than an Ounce of Marijuana (misdemeanor). He was booked at the Alcorn County Jail under a $5,000 bond.

At the Corinth location, an undercover ABC Agent made contact and set up a purchase of illegal distillery equipment. During the investigation, Roger Sharp gave the undercover agent moonshine and indicated that he had a working distillery on the premises. A search warrant was executed revealing a 100-gallon cooker, a 20-gallon cooker, two gallons of moonshine, and 1.5 ounces of marijuana.