Uncle Nearest’s founders have filed a civil lawsuit against the company’s former chief financial officer, according to The Lynchburg Times.

The whiskey brand has been under a receivership as a result of a July 2025 lawsuit filed by Uncle Nearest’s lender, Farm Credit Mid-America, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The lender claims the company had defaulted on loans of more than $108 million. 

U.S. District Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. appointed Tennessee attorney Phillip G. Young Jr. as receiver, so Young now manages assets such as Uncle Nearest’s  distillery in Shelbyville, TN, and “real estate holdings, intellectual property, affiliated ventures, and related entities,” according to Moore County Observer.

Uncle Nearest, which was the fastest-growing in America, according to Forbes’ 2024 estimates, was launched in 2017 by Fawn Weaver and her husband, Keith, and upholds the legacy of Nathan “Nearest” Green, a formerly enslaved man credited with teaching Jack Daniel how to make whiskey.

Since the July lawsuit, Uncle Nearest’s founders have accused former CFO Mike Senzaki of financial misconduct that, among other things, inflated whiskey barrel inventory, resulting in an unnecessary $24 million credit increase from Farm Credit Mid-America. The Weavers and other executives claim Senzaki acted independently, and they were not aware of his actions. They say his conduct was discovered through the company’s 2024 inventory reports.

Civil Lawsuit Explained

In the latest, Uncle Nearest has filed a civil lawsuit in Tennessee’s Bedford County Chancery Court against Senzaki. The plaintiffs are Fawn Weaver, Keith Weaver, and Grant Sidney Inc., which is a privately held investment company owned by Fawn and is the largest shareholder of Uncle Nearest. The Lynchburg Times reports that the lawsuit accuses Senzaki and his company, ZMS Strategies Inc., of fraud, forgery, breach of fiduciary duty, misconduct, defamation, conversion, and breach of loyalty that occurred over several years.

It claims Senzaki was given authority and control over Uncle Nearest’s financial systems, and that he hid millions of dollars in vendor liabilities. In the midst of this, which occurred during a significant period of the company’s growth, he allegedly presented the company’s financial status as being in good standing.

The lawsuit also states that Senzaki altered invoices in the company’s payment software, redirecting funds to entities he controlled, and made it appear that vendor invoices had been paid. Furthermore, it alleges he faked stock transfer certificates and documents to use Fawn Weaver’s equity in the company as collateral, valued at tens of millions of dollars, the outlet notes.

According to the lawsuit, Fawn took little to no cash salary and did not sell equity for personal gain. Equity sales had only been made to support the brand and had been fully loaned back to the company. The lawsuit alleges Senzaki used her equity interests for personal gain without consent.

The lawsuit also claims that Senzaki and others painted the picture that the Weavers were to blame for Uncle Nearest’s debt. However, the lawsuit claims the Weavers had not personally guaranteed loans with Farm Credit Mid-America, although Senzaki and others have allegedly led others to believe so. The couple claim this has resulted in losses of more than $1 million in canceled speaking engagements for Fawn and $9.75 million in frozen funding for businesses owned by Keith, not tied to Uncle Nearest.

What Plaintiffs Are Seeking

They are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief to prevent defendants from transferring or hiding assets that could support claims of misconduct.

As of this writing, there has been no response filed by the defendants, and the case is ongoing.