Maui vacations, luxury watches: Wine buyer at major California grocery chain accused of taking bribes

Los Angeles TimesThursday, October 2, 2025 at 10:00:00 AM
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Maui vacations, luxury watches: Wine buyer at major California grocery chain accused of taking bribes
Patrick Briones, a former assistant sales manager for wines at Albertsons in Newport Beach, has been accused of commercial bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United States. This case raises serious concerns about ethical practices in the grocery industry and highlights the potential for corruption in the procurement of luxury goods, such as fine wines. The implications of such actions could undermine consumer trust and impact the reputation of major grocery chains.
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