John H. Wyncoop, former chief field agent for the Federal prohibition enforcement department in Southern California and Arizona, was found guilty yesterday by a jury in Federal Judge Henning's court on a charge of illegal conversion of seized liquor.
    When Judge Henning indicated that he would sentence Wyncoop to imprisonment, Defense Attorney McDonald asked that sentence be delayed until 2 o'clock Monday. The maximum penalty is ten years in a Federal prison. However a short County Jail term probably will be given the former dry official, as he was permitted to remain at liberty on bail of $3000.
    Col. R. E. Frith, former prohibition administrator for Southern California, testified at Wyncoop's trial that the former field agent was "highly respected for honesty, efficiency and integrity." Col. Frith admitted that dry agents had to pose as bootleggers in order to catch bootleggers.
    Wyncoop maintained that he had taken seized liquor to his home in the performance of his duty. He maintained that in order to enter bootlegging places he had to have "liquor on his breath and on his hip." Asst. U. S. Atty. Armstrong contended, however, that Wyncoop had taken seized liquor to his home for his own use and for distribution among his friends.

Source:

Unknown, ""Dry" Caught in Own Trap, Former Enforcement Agent, Posing as Bootlegger, Convicted by Jury of Illegal Conversion," The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Thursday, 17 March, 1927, p. A11.