Man arrested in $400,000 Napa Valley wine heist

A Vacaville man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing $400,000 worth of wine from a Napa County storage facility in a bid to make a tidy profit on the black market, police said.

The Valley Wine Warehouse declined to comment Thursday, but American Canyon police told FOX40 that the man, Jose Piña, 31, worked at the facility and had unlimited access.

Because the case is still under investigation, American Canyon Police Chief Tracy Stuart told the station she could not provide the names of several store owners who may have purchased the stolen wine.

The investigation led American Canyon police and Napa County sheriff’s detectives to a barn in the Green Valley area of Solano County, where they reported finding about 55 cases of the stolen wine, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

That search led investigators to Piña’s Vacaville apartment, where they said they found more of the stolen wine and $73,150 they believe came from black-market wine sales, according to the paper.

Piña was booked on grand theft charges, along with possession of stolen property.

Police are still looking for other suspects believed to be involved. Anyone with information was asked to contact the American Canyon Police Department.