Former Southern Glazer's Executives Charged in Safeway Shelf Bribery Scheme

A federal grand jury indicted five former California executives of Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits on charges they ran an eight-year bribery scheme to control which wines stocked the shelves of Albertsons-owned supermarkets, including Safeway stores, prosecutors announced. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California said the alleged scheme stretched from 2016 through 2024 and involved corrupting grocery store employees, then falsifying financial records to hide the payments.

The five defendants are Michael Dehdashtian, 48, of Lake Forest, a former vice president of chains; Stephen Magliocco, 47, of Trabuco Canyon, also a former vice president of chains; Adrian Ruiz, 54, of Corona, former senior vice president for California; Ryan Dow, 40, of Upland, a former director of sales; and Loratina "Tina" Muscara, 64, of Livermore, a former director of sales. All five were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and obstruct investigations. Magliocco, Muscara, and Ruiz face the additional charge of falsification of records to obstruct a federal investigation.

Prosecutors allege the executives funneled bribes through false invoices issued by approved vendors and certain alcohol suppliers, who billed the payments as legitimate business expenses. The actual money funded prepaid gift cards worth up to $1,000 each, luxury and designer watches, purses, golf trips, and exercise equipment for grocery store employees who controlled purchasing decisions.

The scheme's reach extended well beyond the Bay Area. Court documents describe conduct touching Walnut Creek, Livermore, Oakland, Pleasanton, Napa's wine industry, multiple Southern California cities, and even Idaho. Michael Sean Salene, identified as a salesman for Napa-based Roots Run Deep winery, was separately indicted for allegedly bribing the head alcohol buyer at the grocery chain. Patrick Briones, identified as Albertsons' lead wine buyer and listed as an assistant sales manager at Albertsons Companies on LinkedIn, was indicted last year on related charges and has since pleaded guilty in federal court.

The broader investigation has ensnared nine people in total, according to court filings. Court documents do not name the companies involved in the scheme, but the San Francisco Chronicle reported that two other defendants, identified as Adler and Barnes, were employed by Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits, the importer behind Josh Cellars and Yellow Tail.

Southern Glazer's, the nation's largest alcohol distributor, was not named in the indictment. A company spokesperson confirmed to CBS News Bay Area that the charged individuals were former employees and that the Florida-based company has cooperated with relevant authorities and will continue to do so.

The group is scheduled to appear in federal court in Oakland on March 25. Convictions could carry up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 per count, depending on the charge.