A federal grand jury in Oakland has indicted five former employees of a California alcohol distribution company and a salesman for a Napa winery on charges related to bribery and obstruction. The indictment, filed March 3, 2026, outlines allegations that the group participated in a scheme from at least 2016 to 2024 to bribe grocery store alcohol buyers and hide these payments through false financial records.
The accused former employees of the distribution company, referred to as Distributor-1, are Stephen Magliocco of Trabuco Canyon, Michael Dehdashtian of Lake Forest, Adrian Ruiz of Corona, Ryan Dow of Upland, and Loratina Muscara of Livermore. According to prosecutors, they and their associates paid bribes to retail grocery chain employees in exchange for increased purchases of certain alcohol brands. The group allegedly used approved vendors and suppliers to create false invoices for legitimate business expenses that actually funded prepaid gift cards worth up to $1,000 each and luxury items such as watches and golf equipment.
The indictment also names Michael Sean Salene of Garden City, Idaho, an employee salesman for a Napa winery. He is accused of bribing the head alcohol buyer for a large national grocery store chain with about 300 locations in California. Prosecutors allege Salene lied during questioning by investigators and falsified invoices.
Employees and suppliers at Distributor-1 were aware that paying bribes was prohibited by law and subject to oversight by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which enforces compliance with trade practice regulations.
Magliocco, Dehdashtian, Ruiz, Dow, and Muscara face charges including conspiracy to commit bribery and obstruct investigations. Magliocco, Ruiz, and Muscara are also charged with falsification of records. Salene faces charges under the Travel Act for bribery as well as making false statements.
“An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” the release states. If convicted on all counts, defendants could face up to five years in prison per count for conspiracy or false statements violations; falsification of records carries up to twenty years per count. Fines may reach $250,000 per count.
Court appearances for those charged are scheduled in Oakland federal court on March 25, 2026.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian announced the case alongside Kareem Carter from IRS Criminal Investigation’s Washington D.C. Field Office. The National Security & Special Prosecutions Section is prosecuting the case following an investigation by IRS-CI and TTB.
Other individuals have already pleaded guilty or admitted involvement in related cases:
– Matthew Adler pleaded guilty on April 3, 2025.
– Bryan Barnes pleaded guilty on April 23, 2025.
– Patrick Briones pleaded guilty on October 9, 2025.
– John Herzog pleaded guilty on October 23, 2025.
– Jessica Goebel entered into a deferred prosecution agreement on December 3, 2025.
