'Extremely large' moonshine still in Choctaw County leads to two arrests

BY ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer
Friday, January 04, 2013
1/04/13 at 3:39 PM

SOPER - Authorities found an "extremely large" moonshine still Thursday while searching the property of a 69-year-old man whose son is suspected of burning a neighbor's camper trailer, Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park said.

The still, with an estimated capacity of more than 200 gallons, was distilling whiskey in a metal storage unit when deputies executed a search warrant about 6 a.m. at the property near Soper, a town about 12 miles west of Hugo, Park said.

Deputies also found an empty still, multiple barrels of alcohol and a gun on the property, authorities said.

Larry Holder, the property's resident, was arrested and booked into the Choctaw County Jail on complaints of operating an untaxed whiskey still -- a felony -- as well as manufacturing corn liquor, possessing untaxed liquor and having a firearm in the commission of a felony, jail records show.

His son, George Holder, 46, arrived during deputies' search and was arrested on suspicion of transporting the liquor, Park said. A subsequent search of his residence in Pushmataha County yielded moonshine, marijuana and guns, he said.

The son was booked into the Choctaw County Jail on complaints of possessing untaxed liquor, operating an unlicenced whiskey still and transporting a loaded firearm.

Joe Daniels, the agent in charge of the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission's McAlester office, said the men had about 400 gallons of mash, the homemade beer used to make moonshine.

Authorities believe that they regularly distilled the mash in Soper and transported large quantities of the product to George Holder's residence, where it was presumably sold, Daniels said.

Park said the deputies' search was prompted by reports that a camper trailer belonging to a neighbor of Larry Holder had burned shortly after George Holder made a vague threat to burn the neighbor's possessions.

The neighbor told deputies that George Holder had become angry after the neighbor asked for help moving cattle off his land, Park said.

George Holder has not yet been charged in the arson investigation.

ABLE agents bust at least one illegal distillery a year in southeastern Oklahoma -- a hotbed for moonshine activity -- but that number would be much higher if the agency could afford to investigate every complaint it receives, Daniels said.

"Southeast Oklahoma is typically the haven for moonshiners," he said. "I don't think people realize that it's a serious crime."

In Oklahoma, possessing a moonshine still with intent to produce alcohol is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

Associated Images:

From left to right, Larry Holder and George Holder

Authorities found an "extremely large" moonshine still Thursday while searching the property of a 69-year-old man whose son is suspected of burning a neighbor's camper trailer, Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park said. Photo provided