Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton Charged With Making and Selling Moonshine

Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton has been charged with making and selling moonshine after federal authorities say they found more than 850 gallons of the untaxed liquor at his Parrottsville, Tenn., home, according to a news release.

Sutton, author of the book "Me and My Likker," was also charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

The 61-year-old Cocke County man, faces up to 25 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted, the release stated.

"Moonshine is romanticized in folklore and the movies. The truth though is that moonshine is a dangerous health issue and breeds other crime. This has not changed over the years," James Cavanaugh, special agent in charge for the federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said in the release. "The illegal moonshine business is fraud on taxpayers in Tennessee and across the country."

Various law enforcement agencies teamed up in the investigation that led to Sutton’s arrest. During their search of Sutton’s operation last week they said three large stills with capacities up to 1,000 gallons were found, in addition to more than 850 gallons of moonshine and hundreds of gallons of ingredients to make the liquor.

Sutton was on probation at the time of his arrest for a prior moonshine charge, according to a Cocke County court affidavit.

Last April, firefighters were dispatched to his home to put out a fire. When it was extinguished, Sutton admitted to having about 650 gallons of moonshine on his property.

Sutton is being held without bond until a March 28 preliminary hearing.

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