Liquor-law officer indicted in shakedowns

State Police Liquor Enforcement Officer Gina Marie Kepler turned her job inspecting bars, restaurants, and other businesses that serve alcohol into a profitable side job shaking down the owners, according to a federal indictment filed yesterday.

In all, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the 34-year-old Kepler hit seven businesses between October 2006 and October 2008: The Chill Bar in Holland, Bucks County; Kenny's Spirited Eatery in Southampton, Bucks County; Johnny Apples Restaurant in Holland; Maggio's in Southampton; the Langhorne Hotel in Langhorne; Jerzee's Sports Bar in Glenside; and Bobby's Burgers Tavern in Conshohocken.

Kepler - whose job was to inspect businesses serving alcohol, conduct investigations regarding the illegal sale of alcohol, and issue citations and order closures if violations of state liquor laws were found - would tell the bar owners that they were facing some kind of licensing trouble, but a little cash would straighten things out.

A typical case involved the Chill Bar at 102 Buck Rd.

Kepler met with the owner before the bar opened in October 2006 to advise him how his business could be in compliance with Liquor Control Board regulations.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, "Kepler told the owner that he would inevitably 'screw up' and that she would have to close the bar." She further said that he "should purchase an 'identification checker' . . . that if he gave her $1,040 in cash, she would get him a checker for use in the bar."

She took the cash, which she was not authorized to do, and after months of delay delivered a checker to the bar. She later took it back, "promising to get the owner a better identification checker," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. She never delivered another checker and kept the money.

On another occasion, she advised the owners of Johnny Apples at 184 Buck Rd. that "the LCB had assessed a penalty on them because some of their checks to beer distributors had bounced."

She then offered a solution, telling the owners "that if they gave her $1,100 in cash, she would assist them in resolving their penalties."

The owners did so. Later, they found out that their checks to the beer distributors had not bounced, and that there was never any problem.

In October 2006 - while working in her official capacity - she allegedly sought a personal loan for $2,000 from the owner of Kenny's Spirited Eatery at 1134 Street Rd.

The indictment states: "Kepler, to date, has not paid back the $2,000."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Arlene D. Fisk, who is prosecuting the case, said Kepler would turn herself in within the next couple of days.

"Public offices, especially those operating within law enforcement agencies, must not be for sale," U.S. Attorney Michael L. Levy said in a statement. "Extortion by a public official is a serious offense because it erodes the public trust. In this case, the erosion is even more severe because of the damage inflicted on the Pennsylvania State Police and state liquor enforcement operations."

Kepler, who lives in Warrington, was being represented by the Federal Community Defender Office. Her lawyer, Mara Meehan, was not available for comment yesterday.

Kepler's sister, Hope Minio Tucci, said last night: "Unfortunately, in today's society, when people read the papers, they will automatically assume she did the things that she is accused of. However, a person is innocent until proven guilty."

Minio Tucci said she believes the truth will eventually surface.

"Until then, someone should take a look into the history and past of the people and or business making these accusations," she said, "because when someone has a lot to lose, you will be amazed at how fast someone will find the easiest target to bring down if it saved themself."

Maj. John Lutz, who has headed the Liquor Control Enforcement Bureau since 2006, called Kepler's alleged conduct "a disappointing betrayal of trust."

Lutz said that he learned of the investigation months ago from the FBI and that there was no indication anyone else was involved in the alleged illegal activity.

Even though a couple of bar owners had lodged complaints about Kepler, the police took immediate steps to ensure that additional potential victims felt comfortable coming forward, Lutz said. Letters were sent to over 3,000 establishments that could have had contact with Kepler, a "proactive response" that produced a couple more alleged victims, Lutz said.

"She was in a very powerful position," Lutz said. "I wanted owners to know we wouldn't tolerate this."

If convicted on all seven counts of Hobbs Act extortion, Kepler - who worked for the state police from July 2000 to February 2009 - faces a maximum sentence of 140 years' imprisonment, a $1,750,000 fine, three years' supervised release, and a $700 special assessment.

Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank E. Pawlowski said, "Kepler was suspended without pay from her position as a liquor enforcement officer when the investigation began and later left state service."