Couple charged for illegally bootlegging moonshine for 30 years

CENTRE COUNTY., Pa. (WJAC) — Investigators with the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement say a Pennsylvania couple has been charged for illegally producing and selling moonshine for the better part of three decades, according to a criminal complaint.

Authorities say Glenn and Barbara McCleester, ages 79 and 65 respectively, face misdemeanor charges of unlawful sales of liquor and manufacturing and selling liquor without a license, according to online court documents.

Officials say the investigation into the McCleesters began in April 2021 when the state police's Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement received an anonymous online complaint alleging [the couple] were "bootleggers."

Investigators say between April 2021 and January of this year, an undercover BLCE officer made four separate purchases of the illegal moonshine from the couple, which they sold for $60 for a gallon jug.

The officer stated that when he first met with the McCleesters, they explained that their moonshine recipe had been passed down to them and that it came from "legendary moonshiner" and former NASCAR driver Junior Johnson.

According to the officer, Barbara McCleester also showed him how "pure" their moonshine was by lighting it on fire and showing how the flame burned blue, not orange.

She explained that when the orange color could be seen in the flames that this would be impurities in the product and would cause a hangover after being consumed and that her moonshine was the purest around.

Investigators say on Jan. 26, officers served a search warrant at the couple's cabin and seized the distilling products used in their operation.

The couple has preliminary arraignments scheduled for Feb. 15, court dockets show.