A British citizen has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the United States for his role in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that deceived investors into financing a counterfeit premium wine business.James Wellesley, also known as “Andrew Fuller” and “Andrew Temple,” was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court. He was also ordered to forfeit $1 million, with compensation to victims to be determined later.Wellesley was convicted of a wire fraud conspiracy related to a sham investment business that defrauded more than 140 victims worldwide of more than $97 million.In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said, “Unlike fine wine, which improves over time, the defendant will spend years in prison reflecting on his wine fraud scheme. James Wellesley used lies to trick investors around the world into investing tens of millions of dollars. “FBI officials said James destroyed the reputation of this prestigious wine industry: “James Wellesley defrauded investors of nearly $100 million by posing as the managing broker of a fine wine collection. Wellesley destroyed the reputation of this prestigious industry and the trust of his customers. The FBI will continue to disrupt fraudulent schemes that steal from victims’ wallets.”The fraud lasted from June 2017 to February 2019. During this time, Wellesley and his co-conspirator Stephen Burton operated through a company called Bordeaux Cellars, disguising it as a legitimate wine investment business.They told investors the company arranged loans between wealthy wine collectors and investors, using expensive wines as collateral. Investors were promised regular interest payments and the Bordeaux cellars would keep the wine safe.However, prosecutors said those claims were untrue. Wealthy borrowers did not exist and the wine was never actually held as collateral. Instead, money from new investors was used to pay early investors and personal expenses.Victims initially received “interest”, leading many to reinvest the funds. In fact, these payments were funded by new investor cash rather than real returns.Of the more than $97 million raised, only about $14 million was returned to investors before the scheme failed, resulting in losses of more than $83 million.Wellesley’s co-conspirator, Burton, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing.
