NAPA – Napa-based startup wine direct-shipping compliance firm Vin-Go is still operating after its chief operating officer was arrested recently on federal charges from the Virgin Islands, according to one of the owners.
Michael J. Steinhauer, 49, was extradited in early May after being arrested by U.S. Marshals at his Napa Valley home on March 31, according to the Justice Department. He is charged with one count each of forgery, obtaining money by false pretense and grand larceny plus two counts of embezzlement allegedly related to his position as comptroller of the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel on the island of St. Thomas.
"We're trying to regroup," said Vin-Go managing partner James Delaney. "It's business as usual."
Mr. Steinhauer set up Vin-Go in June 2009 as an ancillary service to New York-based We Ship Express, which offers cross-country shipping of wine, cheese and produce for customers such as Napa Valley Co-Op and Sonoma County Vintners Co-Op.
In related news, Adobe Creek Wine & Storage in Petaluma and Redwood Empire Wine Storage in Santa Rosa, which have been negotiating with Vin-Go to launch a direct-shipping service, continue to plan the launch of that service, according to the managing owner of Adobe Creek.
