Flomaton TV Star Moonshiner Arrested By State Authorities On Alcohol Charges

September 13, 2022

A TV star moonshiner from Flomaton was arrested Monday night by state authorities on alcohol charges.

Johnny Wayne Griffis, 48, was charged with  felony distillation or manufacture of prohibited liquors and beverages, and a class C misdemeanor of  sale, offer for sale, possession or barter of prohibited liquors and beverages.

He was booked into the Escambia County (AL) Detention Center where he remained early Tuesday morning without bond.

Johnny Griffis competed on Moonshiners: Master Distiller on the Discovery Channel in 2020. In the end, his “old school corn liquor moonshine” took second place.

His new television series “Alabama Shine” premiered in August on The Country Network (TCN). It showcased Griffis in Flomaton and a moonshiner in Carbon Hill, Alabama. In the television series, Griffis discusses evading law enforcement during the moonshine distillation process.

State officials did not release further information about Griffis’ arrest Monday night. If convicted as charged, Griffis would face one to five years in prison, according to Alabama Code.

Comments

20 Responses to “Flomaton TV Star Moonshiner Arrested By State Authorities On Alcohol Charges”

  1. Jbyrd on October 24th, 2022 12:11 am

    He didn’t have his button up shirt on that day

  2. Lee on September 18th, 2022 3:14 pm

    @Billy Preston – Your assessment about smoking makes sense to me. However, marijuana isn’t only smoked and the plant is used for legitimate medical treatments, often providing viable options to opioids, etc.

  3. Lee on September 18th, 2022 3:07 pm

    @Bewildered – The reasons are methanol, lead levels, and taxes.
    As far as the selling of homemade food items, refer to cottage industry standards and laws for your state. Many items are legal if those requirements are met.

  4. Johnnysayswhat on September 18th, 2022 2:23 am

    The glorification of criminal behavior is the real issue here. Shows like these have real world consequences for the communities where it takes place. Public money and resources were used to investigate this crime. The fact that such criminal enterprise is broadcast to the entire world devalues the people and property of that community. All so some production company can make some of that almighty $$$. The affected communities should ban together along with the County and bring a class-action lawsuit against the production and network companies to recoup their losses. If these companies loose enough money they will stop before it becomes shows about meth-labs.

  5. sam on September 16th, 2022 7:29 am

    FREE Johnny! not a bad guy. just likes making his brew. lock up the crowd coming out of odoms, they cause more problems than this guy.

  6. Logan klavon on September 15th, 2022 9:06 pm

    Man that sucks, I don’t understand how the rest of the moonshiners on that tv show have been doing this for several years but as soon as Johnny gets on their he gets arrested. Why is he arrested and they haven’t been and have shown way more illegal activities than this guy that’s crazy

  7. Billy Preston on September 14th, 2022 2:28 pm

    @ mnon

    I can’t wait to read the replie to your post about marijuana growers by all the potheads.
    “Marijuana is just a plant, dude. It’s a gift from God. It’s natural.” Yeah, so is poison ivy. You’ll never, ever convince me that inhaling any burning substance has no adverse health effects on your lungs. I don’t care what it is, our lungs were designed to breath in air, not smoke.

    Or, and this guy? Well, he wanted to be famous. Now he is.

  8. cj on September 14th, 2022 1:21 pm

    With all the drug traffic out there? Why not catch them?

  9. Rasheed Jackson on September 14th, 2022 8:07 am

    It is legal to make beer and wine at your home for personal consumption, in Florrida and Alabama, but there are guidelines you must follow.

  10. Well well on September 14th, 2022 1:10 am

    And I just thought they played up the illegal aspect of it for tv.

    I figured in reality he was working at a licensed distillery and the moonshiner stuff was for show.

    That’s why I don’t gamble

  11. Shiner on September 14th, 2022 12:56 am

    Not deep enuf in woods bro

  12. CC on September 13th, 2022 8:37 pm

    Question is: Did he really think he was going to advertise his illegal activity on a national tv show and get away with it? (insert sacrcasm)

  13. Bewildered on September 13th, 2022 6:10 pm

    Why can you make home made wine and beer but not liquor? confusing – outdated. ? I always thought you cannot SELL homemade food of ANY kind without a license
    but that flourishes on neighborhood websites.

  14. Duh on September 13th, 2022 1:30 pm

    He got street cred now

  15. Kane on September 13th, 2022 1:16 pm

    Where are all the supporters from the Aug.25th article? Sucks you went to jail maybe don’t advertise at least until you get licensed and legal?

    @mnon Gotta call you Hammer cause you hit the nail on the head XD

  16. Taree Huggers on September 13th, 2022 8:06 am

    Who would have thought the guy was making moonshine?

  17. SW on September 13th, 2022 6:44 am

    Wonder if he’ll make that part of his tv show?

  18. Well on September 13th, 2022 5:56 am

    That’s tooooo funny

  19. Kaykay on September 13th, 2022 5:54 am

    Good ole Johnny boy

  20. mnon on September 13th, 2022 1:48 am

    Yeah, that’s pretty much what I thought from jump street. You must be a special kind of ignorant to showcase your illegal activity, or my best guess is when someone does something for so long they somehow justify what they are doing and no longer see it as a crime. Like marijuana growers, etc.