Georgetown distillery operator charged with using neighbor's cattle as loan collateral

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Georgetown distillery operator is facing a felony theft charge after allegedly using a neighboring family's cattle and farm equipment as collateral for a $100,000 loan, according to LEX 18 News.

Darin Dillow, who operates LF Heritage Distilling on Soards Road, appeared in court after being indicted on one count of theft by deception over $10,000. According to the indictment, Dillow claimed the McIntosh family's property as his own in August 2024 to secure a loan from a Lexington lending company.

Faye McIntosh, whose family has owned the adjacent farm since 1985, attended the arraignment and expressed shock at Dillow's actions. "There's no words to describe what [I feel] in my heart right now... He goes to add credit and borrows money off their cattle and our farm equipment and insinuates that's his farm," McIntosh said.

The case represents one of several mounting legal problems for Dillow. Multiple companies have filed liens and lawsuits against him alleging unpaid debts for work performed on his property. Additionally, the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Control is investigating the distillery operation at 197 Soards Road, though no notice of violation has been issued.

Until recently, Dillow operated bourbon tours and tastings at the property, previously known as Limestone Farms Distillery. The McIntosh family said the breach of trust was particularly painful given their long-standing friendship with Dillow and his family. Faye McIntosh noted that Dillow had preached about forgiveness at Penn Memorial Baptist Church in Stamping Ground just weeks before the alleged fraud.

Dillow declined to comment as he left the courthouse with his attorneys. He is scheduled to return to court for another hearing on the theft case in June.