Retailers Flip Sides in Empire Merchants Lawsuit

New York wholesaler Empire Merchants has bolstered its case against its co-owner Charlie Merinoff and Reliable Churchill (Reliable) for allegedly defrauding Empire through involvement in a smuggling scheme. Empire has amended its original complaint adding in statements from some Maryland retailers confirming the alleged scheme, as well as new claims of retaliation from Breakthru Beverage, where Charlie is co-chairman.BACKGROUND. You may recall, Empire Merchants filed federal fraud charges in September against a long list of defendants including: Charlie Merinoff, Breakthru