http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2330116/Scores-TGI-Fridays-New-Jersey-busted-selling-caramel-colored-rubbing-alcohol-shelf-scotch-statewide-crackdown-dubbed-Operation-Swill.html
( Inflation rears its head at TGIF's restaurants in New Jersey ? )
( Inflation rears its head at TGIF's restaurants in New Jersey ? )
Scores of TGI Fridays in New Jersey 'busted for selling caramel-colored rubbing alcohol as top-shelf scotch' in statewide crackdown dubbed Operation Swill
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At one bar, a mixture that included rubbing alcohol and caramel coloring was sold as scotch. In another, premium liquor bottles were refilled with water - and apparently not even clean water at that.
State officials provided those new details Thursday on raids they conducted a day earlier as part of a yearlong investigation dubbed Operation Swill.
Twenty-nine New Jersey bars and restaurants, including 13 TGI Fridays, were accused of substituting cheap booze - or worse - for top-shelf brands while charging premium prices.
Swill: Nearly 29 bars and restaurants in New Jersey are accused of selling a mixture of rubbing alcohol and caramel coloring as scotch, and refilling premium liquor bottles with dirty water
Liquor scam: New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa, right, and Michael Halfacre, chief of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, talks about 'Operation Swill'
Evidence: Funnels confiscated during an investigation, in which 29 bars and restaurants in New Jersey are accused of putting cheap booze in premium brand liquor bottles and selling it
As part of Operation Swill, investigators collected 1,000 open bottles of vodka, gin, rum, scotch, whiskey and tequila from the wells of the bars, state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa said.
‘This alleged scheme is a dishonest ruse to increase profits and is a slap in the face of the consumer,’ Chiesa said.
Within seven days, the establishments must turn over records to help state authorities determine how many patrons were overcharged and by how much.
They also will have to inform the state which employees were at work the days samples were covertly taken earlier this year.
Widespread fraud: The 29 establishments accused of scamming patrons ranged from neighborhood dive bars to fine restaurants to famous chains, inclding 13 branches of TGI Friday's
State officials would not say what establishment used the rubbing alcohol or which one used dirty water, or water not from a tap. They said no health issues were reported.
TGI Fridays Inc. said it was conducting its own investigation, working with the franchisee that owns the 13 restaurants cited, The Briad Group.
COMPLETE LIST OF NJ BARS BUSTED IN LIQUOR RAID:
Applebee's, Kearny
Bell's Tavern, Lambertville
Blackthorn Restaurant, Parsippany
The Brick House, Wyckoff
Brunswick Grove, East Brunswick
Café 34, Matawan
Cucina Calandara, Fairfield
Graziano's Ristorante, Chesilhurst
Italian Affair, Glassboro
Murray's, Dover
Railroad Café, East Rutherford
Ruby Tuesday, Bridgewater
Sona Thirteen, Morristown
Sunset Tavern, Burlington
TGI Fridays in Clifton; East Hanover; East Windsor; Freehold; Hamilton; Hazlet; Linden; Marlboro; North Brunswick; Old Bridge; Piscataway; Springfield and West Orange
Villari's Lakeside, Gloucester Township
Yesterday's, Marmora
Bell's Tavern, Lambertville
Blackthorn Restaurant, Parsippany
The Brick House, Wyckoff
Brunswick Grove, East Brunswick
Café 34, Matawan
Cucina Calandara, Fairfield
Graziano's Ristorante, Chesilhurst
Italian Affair, Glassboro
Murray's, Dover
Railroad Café, East Rutherford
Ruby Tuesday, Bridgewater
Sona Thirteen, Morristown
Sunset Tavern, Burlington
TGI Fridays in Clifton; East Hanover; East Windsor; Freehold; Hamilton; Hazlet; Linden; Marlboro; North Brunswick; Old Bridge; Piscataway; Springfield and West Orange
Villari's Lakeside, Gloucester Township
Yesterday's, Marmora
Briad, based in Livingston, said it ‘takes great pride in the quality of food and drink’ served at its TGI Fridays franchises and was troubled and surprised by the allegations. It said in an emailed statement it would take immediate steps to correct any problems it identified.
‘We want every assurance possible that our guests can continue to feel confident in the great food and drink they order at our T.G.I. Friday's restaurants,’ said Rick Barbrick, president of The Briad Restaurant Group.
Operation Swill started after the state began receiving more complaints than usual about possibly mislabeled drinks, said the director of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Michael Halfacre.
An informant with knowledge of the industry contacted the agency in the fall to help in the investigation, he said.
In January and February, investigators went to 63 establishments they suspected were scamming liquor customers.
They ordered drinks neat - that is, without ice or mixers - and then covertly took samples for testing.
Targeted: Sona Thirteen in Morristown was among the 29 establishments that were raided as part of Operation Swill
Undercover sting: Investigators went to 63 establishments, including Blackthorn Restaurant in Parsippany (pictured), ordered drinks neat and then covertly took samples for testing
The undercover inspectors tested vodka brands such as Grey Goose and Ketel One; scotch, such as Johnny Walker Black and Dewar’s; and Jose Cuervo Silver and Gold tequila.
Of 150 samples collected, 30 were not the brand as which they were being sold.
The establishments face suspensions of their liquor licenses and possible revocations if there are enough violations.
'Worst offender:' As many as 13 TGI Friday's franchises in New Jersey were cited in the sting, leading the company to launch its own probe
This police officer must have been drinking swill.......
This police officer must have been drinking swill.......
Edison, New Jersey police officer Michael A. Dotro was arrested and charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count of aggravated arson on Thursday for allegedly firebombing the home of a captain from his own police department.
The firebombing occurred early Monday morning, when Captain Mark Anderko was home with his wife, his two children and his 92-year-old mother. Police believe Dotro either detonated a gas can outside of Anderko's home or used a Molotov cocktail to start the blaze. Anderko and his family escaped unharmed. His home, however, was badly damaged.
Dotro's lawyer, Lawrence Bitterman, told NJ.com that he was shocked by the arrest.
“I find it utterly incomprehensible to believe that Mike, who I’ve known in his capacity as PBA representative, could ever be involved in anything like this,” Bitterman said. “I’ve spoken to him, and he adamantly denies any involvement and expresses his condolences to the Anderko family. He is sickened at the thought of someone doing this to a brother officer, or anyone else, for that matter.”
NJ.com notes that Dotro has had an extensive history with the Edison Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit. He was investigated twice — once in 2008 for allegedly stealing a police car as part of a prank from the department's l0t, and once in 2005 on charges of police brutality that led to tensions between the department and the township's Asian-Indian community. He was cleared of wrongdoing both times.
And in 2008, the then 31-year-old fought his 68-year-old neighbor, Dennis Sassa, allegedly punching Sassa at least six times. Both men were charged with assault, and both were later acquitted. But before the fight, Sassa's shed was set on fire, causing damages to his car and home. No one was charged, but on Wednesday investigators interviewed Sassa about his dispute with Dotro.
“They asked me about incidents that occurred at the time, and one of them was the fire with the shed,” Sassa said. “They were particularly interested in that.”
Dotro, a 10-year veteran who made $118,000 a year, was suspended with pay and is being held on $5 million bail.
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