Trust is a funny thing in business. You hire someone, pay them a comfortable six-figure salary, and give them the keys to your brand's growth. Then, they turn around and treat your company like a personal piggy bank. That is essentially the story of Mitchell Green Sire Spirits, a saga that involves high-end cognac, French distilleries, and a betrayal that cost millions.
Honestly, the details are almost cinematic. Mitchell Green wasn't just some low-level clerk; he was the Director of Brand Management for Sire Spirits, the liquor powerhouse owned by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson. While 50 Cent was out there building the reputation of Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi champagne, Green was busy orchestrating a kickback scheme that would eventually blow up in a spectacular legal firestorm.
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How the Mitchell Green Sire Spirits Scheme Actually Worked
Most people think embezzlement is just someone taking cash out of a register. This was much more sophisticated. Green’s job was to negotiate the best possible deals with French suppliers. Instead, he did the exact opposite. Between 2017 and 2020, Green secretly set up side agreements with two French distilleries: Champagne Castelnau and Raymond Ragnaud.
He basically told these suppliers, "Hey, I’ll make sure Sire Spirits buys from you, but you need to pay me a fee for every bottle." To cover his tracks, he had the distilleries bake these "agency fees" into the per-bottle price. Sire Spirits was footing the bill for the very kickbacks that were lining Green’s pockets.
It wasn't a small amount of money either.
Over about three years, Sire Spirits paid nearly $15 million for champagne and cognac. Out of that, roughly $2.2 million was funneled directly to Green’s shell company, Q Branch Consulting LLC.
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The Extortion That Blew the Lid Off
You might wonder how he got caught. It wasn’t a fancy internal audit or a whistleblowing accountant. It was actually a third party. Someone found out what Green was doing and tried to blackmail him. Fearing the exposure from an outsider, Green eventually confessed to 50 Cent in February 2020.
That confession triggered an immediate termination and a massive legal battle. 50 Cent isn't exactly known for letting things slide, especially when it comes to his money. Sire Spirits took Green to arbitration, and the results were devastating for the former executive.
The arbitrator didn't just ask for the $2.2 million back.
They awarded Sire Spirits a total of $6,194,293. This included:
- Compensatory damages for the stolen funds.
- Disgorgement of Green’s salary.
- Millions in attorneys' fees and interest.
The Fight for Assets and the Bankruptcy Dodge
Once the judgment was confirmed by a federal court, the real "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" irony began. Mitchell Green tried to shield his assets. He lived in a $1 million home in Westport, Connecticut, and like many people facing a massive debt, he filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in March 2023.
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The goal was simple: use bankruptcy to wipe the slate clean. But there is a catch in the law. Debts that arise from fraud or "willful and malicious injury" are often non-dischargeable. Sire Spirits fought the bankruptcy, arguing that Green shouldn't be allowed to hide behind legal protections after intentionally defrauding the company.
By 2025, the courts had largely sided with 50 Cent. A bankruptcy judge lifted the "automatic stay" on Green's Connecticut home. This was a huge win for Sire Spirits because it meant they could finally move toward seizing the property to satisfy at least a portion of the now $7 million debt (thanks to accruing interest).
What This Means for Business Owners Today
The Mitchell Green Sire Spirits case is a textbook example of why "segregation of duties" matters. Green was the one identifying the sources and the one essentially approving the costs. When one person has total control over a vendor relationship, the door for kickbacks swings wide open.
If you are running a business, here is the reality check:
- Audit your vendors: Don't just look at the total on the invoice. Ask for price breakdowns and compare them to market rates.
- Trust but verify: High-level employees need oversight just as much as entry-level ones.
- Watch the lifestyle: While not always a smoking gun, a sudden influx of luxury assets that don't match a salary can be a red flag.
Moving Forward
For Mitchell Green, the "agency fees" turned into a legal nightmare that cost him his career, his reputation, and his home. For Sire Spirits, it was an expensive lesson in internal controls. The saga serves as a reminder that even in the high-glamour world of celebrity brands, the most dangerous threats often come from the inside.
To protect your own business interests, start by implementing a dual-signature requirement for all new vendor contracts and performing a random audit of your top five suppliers. It’s a small step that can prevent a multi-million dollar betrayal.