Francis Ford Coppola’s Winery Manager Accused of Embezzling $1.2 Million From Equipment Sales

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of George Giles Beeker III, a former project manager at Francis Ford Coppola’s Inglenook Winery in Rutherford, California. Beeker is accused of embezzling $1.2 million from the sale of winery equipment and using the funds for unauthorized home improvements. The Napa County District Attorney’s Office charged Beeker with grand theft and embezzlement on October 2, following an investigation that began after a civil lawsuit was filed by Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery, the owner of Inglenook, in July 2024.

According to prosecutors, Beeker was hired by Inglenook in 2019 to oversee construction of a new winemaking facility. During his tenure, he purchased 120 fermentation tanks for the project. Between December 2021 and January 2022, he sold 26 of these tanks for $1.2 million. Court documents allege that instead of returning the proceeds to the winery or its owners, Beeker used the money to pay for improvements on a property associated with the winery.

Beeker has not been arrested as of this week, and the warrant for his arrest, issued on October 9, remains active. Attempts to reach him for comment have been unsuccessful. In a court filing from September 2024, Beeker denied any wrongdoing. He stated that he had approval to sell the tanks and that the funds were used for a project owned by the winery.

The civil lawsuit filed by Niebaum-Coppola accuses Beeker and his company, MissionFirst Associates, of misusing project funds and providing false information about costs and reimbursements. The winery is seeking more than $2.1 million in damages, including interest, attorney’s fees, and punitive damages. The lawsuit also names Calistoga Vintner Services, which purchased the tanks from Beeker, as a defendant. The complaint alleges that Calistoga Vintner Services should have known that Beeker did not have legal ownership of the tanks.

In response to the allegations, Beeker has maintained that there was no conspiracy or theft involved. He argued in court documents that the sale price was fair because the tanks were custom-made and had been stored for an extended period.

Calistoga Vintner Services has also filed its own complaint against Beeker, claiming he misrepresented himself during their transactions. Both lawsuits are currently pending in Napa County Superior Court. A trial date has been set for July next year.

If convicted on criminal charges, Beeker could face up to six years in prison under California law. The case continues to draw attention in Napa Valley’s wine industry due to its scale and the involvement of one of the region’s most prominent wineries.