Anderson

The trial court found attorney and former Alcoholic Beverage Control Investigator Thomas Anderson conspired to violate state liquor laws (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 24079 [transfer of restricted liquor license for consideration in excess of statutory amount]; Pen. Code, § 182, subds. (a)(1), (5)). Anderson argues Orange County was an improper venue, section 24079 is not a criminal statute, and insufficient evidence supports his convictions. We affirm.

I

Dennis Minnock and his wife were sole shareholders in a corporation that operated a Laguna Beach restaurant and obtained an on-sale liquor license May 18, 1984. The corporation sold the restaurant in 1986, but kept the license on inactive status.

In late 1987, Minnock decided to sell the license. He telephoned Harvey Dwork, self-proclaimed “leading expert on transfer of liquor licenses,” who advised he might receive more than the $6,000 allowed by law for licenses held less than five years. Sometime later, Anderson entered the picture. In a three-way telephone conversation between the men, Minnock learned a buyer had been found and the price would include a $6,000 payment to the corporation for the license and $9,000 to him…