A British national has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the United States for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme that duped investors into funding a fake fine wine venture.James Wellesley, also known by his aliases “Andrew Fuller” and “Andrew Templer,” was sentenced in federal court in Brooklyn. He was also ordered to confiscate one million dollars, with compensation for the victims to be determined at a later date.Wellesley was convicted of a wire fraud conspiracy linked to a sham investment operation that defrauded more than 140 victims around the world of more than $97 million.“Unlike good wine that gets better with time, the defendant will spend years in prison contemplating his fraudulent wine scheme,” US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said in announcing the sentence.
James Wellesley has manipulated investors around the world into investing tens of millions of dollars in lies.FBI officials said James ruined the reputation of the prestigious wine industry: “James Wellesley embezzled nearly $100 million from investors by posing as an executive broker for fine wine groups. Wellesley ruined the industry’s prestigious reputation as well as the trust of his clients.”
“The FBI continues to stop fraudulent schemes that steal from victims’ wallets.”The fraud lasted from June 2017 to February 2019. During this period, Wellesley and co-conspirator Stephen Burton operated through a company called Bordeaux Cellars, which they presented as a legitimate wine investment company.They told investors that the company arranged loans between wealthy wine collectors and investors, using expensive wine as collateral.
Investors were promised regular interest payments, and that Bordeaux Cellars would keep the wine safe.However, prosecutors said these allegations were untrue. Wealthy borrowers did not exist, and wine was never held as collateral. Instead, funds from new investors were used to pay previous investors and personal expenses.Victims initially received “interest payments,” prompting many to reinvest their money.
In fact, these payments were funded with new investors’ money rather than real returns.Of the more than $97 million raised, only about $14 million was returned to investors before the scheme collapsed, resulting in losses exceeding $83 million.Burton, Wellesley’s co-conspirator, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
