tl;dr – I’m not sure you could make up a more French story than this one.
A French man was recently sentenced to 18 months in prison for pushing fake Champagne through a holding company. Didier Chopin and his wife are said to have perpetrated fraud amounting to seven million euros from the knock-off bubbly, shimmery, scheme.
Chopin purchased still wine from Spain and France, then added ‘aromas and gases’ to mimic the Champagne essence. He and his wife were done in when employees from their holding company outed the scheme.
In an offensively-classic caper move that would bring a smile to Rififi fans everywhere, Chopin fled to Morocco to avoid capture, and was busted there on separate charges for bouncing checks.
Ok, I have several questions, but…
First off – Didier Chopin? I mean, come on – you know I can’t let that slide.
How French can we get? That name is reserved for winners of the Concours de la meilleure baguette. I said it aloud while writing this, and a table fully set with boeuf bourguignon, cassoulet, and coq au vin just appeared out of nowhere.
Mise. En. Place.
Now let’s get down to business. Who were these buyers of this back-alley ‘Champagne’? Like, was their desire for the golden bubbles that great that they just up and decided – you know, we need to go ‘next-level’ and find some off-the-beaten-path up-and-coming négociant or producer that no one knows about. Let’s ask little to no questions and just buy the ‘juice’.
Did they do any research? How THIRSTY were these people?
How good was Chopin’s fast talk? Did he have a website? Would they have cared?
Interlude – It’s interesting that he was outed by his employees, and not the buyers. I know who I’m NOT teaming up with a blind taste test.
Also, seven million euros? How ‘bussin’ was this man’s fake champagne? What exactly were these added ‘aromas’?
As part of his punishment, Chopin will also serve an additional 30 months suspended sentence, is barred from running a company ever again, and was ordered to pay fines, fees, and restitution to several parties.
And because I’m not sure when there will be another post where I can use this gif, here – take it.
