OIU conducts search warrant at a Hamilton bar for illegal sale of alcohol

Date: April 7, 2017
Contact: Agent-in-Charge Adam Johnson
(513) 942-0610

OIU conducts search warrant at a Hamilton bar for illegal sale of alcohol

(Cincinnati) – Agents with the Ohio Investigative Unit executed a search warrant on a Hamilton bar which has been operating without a valid liquor license since May 2016.

Agents charged Michael Larkin, 52, of Hamilton with illegal sale of alcohol and keeper of place. The charges stem from an investigation at Alley’s on the River, 954 Pyramid Hill Boulevard.

During the search warrant agents seized approximately 1,492 bottles of various brands of liquor and beer.

Charges against Larkin were filed in the Hamilton Municipal Court. He could face up to $1,000 fine and six-months in jail for illegal sales and fined up to $500 for keeper of a place for each count.

In the state of Ohio, in order to sell alcohol, businesses must have a valid liquor permit issued by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Liquor Control. 

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Ohio Investigative Unit agents are plain-clothed fully sworn peace officers. OIU is charged with enforcing the state’s liquor laws and is the only state law enforcement agency specifically tasked with investigating food stamp fraud crimes. Agents also investigate tobacco violations. Follow OIU on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Investigative-Unit/165782203506269 and on Twitter by logging onto http://twitter.com/Ohio_OIU.     

www.statepatrol.ohio.gov                                                                        A division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety