Home-brewer facing at least 11 years in jail over $20m ‘vintage wine’ fraud

A California wine collector the government has characterised as a prolific counterfeiter, who sold at least $20m (€14.9m) of fake wine, faces at least 11 years in prison on fraud charges.

Rudy Kurniawan, 37, was convicted of mail and wire fraud charges for manufacturing bogus bottles of wine in his kitchen, and peddling them as vintage wine.

Although the charges carry a potential of up to 40 years, federal sentencing guidelines call for him to serve at least 11 years in prison.