You can cancel at any time. Donna Osowitt Steele. Federal court documents indicate Donna Osowitt Steele defrauded an unnamed Hickory company of $15 million through credit card charges, checks, QuickBooks transactions and wire transactions from 2013 through January 2020. It was said in court that TIGRA is looking for more than $16 million in restitution. She did not produce the money, so Judge G.K. Butterfield sentenced her to serve at least 10 months in prison, according to the court documents. She is currently awaiting sentencing. A couple who works at a coffee shop and sign business down the street from some of the Steeles family businesses on Main Street in Taylorsville said they were shocked. The judge also ordered that she pay 10 percent of the restitution the day of her sentencing. Hickory Daily Record city reporter Hickory Daily Record city reporter A motion filed by the prosecution last week listed the agreed-upon restitution amount at roughly $16.9 million and included a nearly 2-page list of jewelry and accessories the government has seized. A Hickory man charged in a fatal hit-and-run in Claremont made his first appearance in Catawba County court on Monday. A Taylorsville woman has been charged with a wire fraud embezzlement scheme. During the same time period, Steele executed at least 117 fraudulent and unauthorized bank wires, totaling more than $2.2 million, from TIGRAs bank accounts to Steeles personal bank account, which she then used for her personal benefit, including to fund a personal real estate closing, according to the news release. CHARLOTTE, N.C., NOV. 3, 2022 - Donna Osowitt Steele, 53, of Taylorsville, N.C., was sentenced today to eight years in prison for embezzling more than $15 million from her former employer, announced Dena J. Steele pleaded guilty to a wire fraud embezzlement scheme that involved Tigra, a company based out of Hickory. This is a business registration address for Roundroom. Goewey said he began working for Chick-fil-A at age 15. Donna O Steele, Age 54. aka Donna M Brendleosowitt, Donna M Kelley, Donna M Osowitt. Please subscribe to keep reading. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Oliver's Landing New Build. Two other letters, also critical of Steele, were submitted for the courts consideration in March. A man was arrested on an attempted rape charge thanks to the quick action of a local businessman and his friend. We are not a big company like this company in Hickory were just a small little family business. There was a problem saving your notification. Donna is related to Elliott David Osowitt and Jordan Osowitt as well as 3 additional people. She pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of larceny. And she was believable, Britt Perkins said. Donna Steele, seen here in January walking to the federal courthouse to plead guilty to embezzling millions from a Hickory company, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 3. Donna Steele was charged with embezzlement while living in Winston-Salem and arrested on Sept. 6, 1990. (WATCH BELOW: Charlotte fraud analyst accused of stealing nearly $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds), Charlotte fraud analyst accused of stealing nearly $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds. There was a problem saving your notification. He paid more than $3,000, only to find out the business had suddenly closed earlier in 2022. (WSOC). This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. She was ordered to surrender her passport and will be sentenced at a later date. Former NC CEO accused of embezzling $15 million accepts plea deal During her six months with the company, Britt Perkins said Steele embezzled more than $500,000. It will be a working farm. Mooneyham, Chapman and Holm described a work environment where employees were demeaned and turned against one another. Steele is expected to appear in court on Jan. 12 to formally accept the deal. Carter wrote to the judge handling Steeles embezzlement case saying: Ms. She claimed her parents were very wealthy and that was how she could afford all of the stuff she did, he said. Were going to keep bees for honey, local honey. A court filing on Friday, Dec. 17, also accuses Donna Osowitt Steele, of Taylorsville, North Carolina, of using stolen money to fund personal businesses run by her family. The property was previously owned by Timothy and Donna Steele. Goewey said the operation hopes to offer vacation rentals, starting with the cabin on the property. James Goewey II and Stacy Austin are the co-owners of Ellendale Farms LLC. West Jefferson, NC. You have permission to edit this article. Jack Perkins died in May 2021. Phone Number: (828) 322- CGIL +14 phones. Faherty went to her home in Alexander County but was told no comment and asked to leave. CHARLOTTE A Taylorsville woman accused of embezzling millions of dollars from her employer accepted a plea deal in federal court Wednesday morning in Charlotte. Steele did not answer any of Channel 9s questions as she headed into the courtroom. The owners say the farmhouse on the property will eventually be a rental option as part of wedding packages. 34. Steele plans to liquidate some of her assets to make the payments. She agreed to start early repayment in March. Donna Steele Donna Steele enters the federal courthouse in Charlotte to plead guilty to wire fraud on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. She added: I never questioned her about this because I trusted her and never thought there was an alternative reason for doing this. SE Hickory, NC 28602 . Steele pleads guilty to embezzling $15 million from Hickory company; she will be sentenced at a later date. Steele worked at TIGRA USA in Hickory from 1999 to January 2020. Neither Steeles attorney nor a federal prosecutor involved in the case had returned a call asking for more details on the prepayment as of noon on Thursday. Donna Steele in Hickory, NC - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages The documents say she used stolen money to fund an extravagant lifestyle and a personal business, Opulence by Steele, in Taylorsville. We grabbed lunch downtown and then took a brief stroll on the City Walk. She admitted diverting more than $15 million of company money, funds that were used for lavish purchases and to support her clothing company Opulence by Steele. Steele appeared in . The address on file for this person is 178 North Shore Dr, Hickory, NC 28601 in Catawba County. Maybe not surprised, Britt Perkins said. The first event Carter has on the books is scheduled for April. Please subscribe to keep reading. Steele fought back tears during the sentencing and turned to Motzer to apologize. Federal defendant Donna Steele arrives at the federal courthouse in Charlotte for sentencing on embezzlement charges in November. STEELE'S CONSTRUCTION LLC - Project Photos & Reviews - Hickory, NC US 75. You have permission to edit this article. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Donna M Steele | 3rd Street Ln NW, Hickory, NC | Whitepages She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. The memo said she blamed the owners for financial irregularities such as lapses in health insurance coverage and late paychecks. Two men and two teens have been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 17-year-old seriously injured Tuesday afternoon. . The attorneys also faulted TIGRA. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Earlier this year, Channel 9s Dave Faherty reported that Donna Steele pleaded guilty to a wire fraud embezzlement scheme that involved Tigra, a company based out of Hickory. He admits it was a difficult time for his bride-to-be. A Taylorsville property, once home to The Nest wedding venue at Steeles Farms, has new owners. The inside of the barn is completely white. Faherty also stopped by Steeles Home Market general store on Monday but said the doors were locked and there are for sale signs in front. They couldnt comment on the investigation, but the companys president sent an email to Channel 9 saying, Thanks for contact us. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Vento of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case. We didnt know what we were doing because we didnt get an email a text message a phone call or anything about what to do, Couch said. Thats where the names came from.. In addition to the credit card purchases, Steele admitted to issuing and causing to be issued to herself approximately 98 checks totaling more than $2.8 million from TIGRAs bank accounts, which Steele deposited into her personal bank account. Along with the embezzlement charge in 1995, Steele has also pleaded guilty to fraud rental vehicle in Forsyth County in 1995, two counts of forgery in Forsyth County in 1994, two counts of worthless checks in Forsyth County in 1994, four counts of worthless checks in 1994 in Yadkin County, five counts of worthless checks in 1995 in Davie County, and four counts of worthless checks in 1995 in Forsyth County, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website. Former Hickory CEO Steele sentenced to 8 years in prison, ordered to CHARLOTTE The former CEO of a company in Hickory who is accused of stealing more than $15 million was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday. In the past, Donna has also been known as Donna O Steele, Donna Kelley, Donna Brendle Osowitt, Donna M Brendleosowitt and Donna M Kelley. After pleading guilty earlier this year, Channel 9 learned that as part of her plea agreement, Steele agreed to pay full restitution in the embezzlement case and is liquidating her assets. 'We were all pawns in Donna's game:' Employees blast embezzling - News And Im thinking, Man, when the flowers and the trees and everything comes into bloom, this is just going to be a setting thats so memorable. Thats what I want to do; I want to create memories.. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Carter said she is trying to locate patrons of the previous owners to try to reschedule their events. 1100 11th Ave. Blvd. Donna Steele lives at 1260 6th N.W. She explained to me that the mail would only confuse them and she would go through them when they left, Mooneyham wrote. She worked in the shipping department and was promoted over the next 20 years to various positions within the company, including chief executive officer, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Steele also transferred more than $350,000 in embezzled money to a high-end clothing and furniture business that she operated called Opulence by Steele, according to the court filing. The interior room of the barn where weddings and other events can be held. Company president Bernd Motzer confirmed the unnamed company is TIGRA USA. Email: kgriffin@hickoryrecord.com. Were really kind of just starting to look into all the opportunities here, but thats kind of what we see, where we see it going into the future., The names, Ellendale Farms and Ellendale Events, were inspired by the location of the farm. I started freaking out. According to the documents, some of the charges to company credit cards Steele made include $1 million for travel expenses on airlines and hotels for herself, her family and friends, $1 million in entertainment-related expenses and $500,000 in jewelry. We are gratified that justice if being done.. She's accused of embezzling over $15 million from her employer from 2013-2020. Hickory fiber optic manufacturer CommScope was the victim of a ransomware attack in late March, the company confirmed in a statement Tuesday. Prosecutors originally asked for 70-87 months of prison time. She is expected to formally accept the plea agreement in Charlotte, Bantavani said. View their profile including current address, phone number 828-322-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. Former CEO charged with embezzling millions from company | wcnc.com There was a problem saving your notification. She was up most of the night, crying, stressing out about it, because this is one of the best days of her life, he said. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Two men and two teens have been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 17-year-old seriously injured Tuesday afternoon. There was a problem saving your notification. An employee at the Clerk of Court office in Davie County said Steele was charged with four counts of worthless simple checks and two probation violations in 1995. You can cancel at any time. It is not clear how much Steele has paid or intends to pay early or what assets she will sell to make those payments. Attorneys hired by Steele asked for a five-year prison sentence along with supervised release while prosecutors sought a prison sentence between 70 and 87 months a range of roughly six years to a little more than seven years. Donna Steele, 47, is accused of embezzling $15 million from 2013 until 2020 from her employer, Tigra, in Hickory where she worked as CEO. The Brookford Police Department will be making a second appearance on the TV show On Patrol: Live this weekend. The company is a North Carolina Domestic Business Corporation, which was filed on March 12, 2015. Steele is accused of spending millions for weddings, trips for herself and family members, other entertainment-related expenses and more. You have permission to edit this article. Please subscribe to keep reading. Steele entered a guilty plea in January, admitting to embezzling more than $15 million from TIGRA USA, a Germany-based tool company with a location in Hickory. The glass doors, at the back of the main room, lead out onto a large white deck where receptions can be held. A Taylorsville woman who earlier this year pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15 million has signaled she is willing to begin making restitution payments ahead of her sentencing. A man was arrested on an attempted rape charge thanks to the quick action of a local businessman and his friend. It was a slap on the wrist, he said. Donna Steele, seen here in January walking to the federal courthouse to plead guilty to embezzling millions from a Hickory company, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 3. Chapman wrote that Steele created an atmosphere of fear and instability within the workplace and hired all of her staff as young, impressionable people and then conditioned them to fit her narrative.. Opulence by Steele was a high-end clothing and furniture boutique Steele founded in 2013. Donna W Steele in Taylorsville, NC - Address & Phone Number - Whitepages Steele embezzled the money from at least 2013 to January 2020 when she was fired from the company. Donna Osowitt Steele, 53, received her sentence Thursday . Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter - hickoryrecord.com Court docs say the money went towards her lavish lifestyle and to fund a business run by her and her family. I was like, Gosh, that sounds really cool. It sounds cool, Carter said. Prosecutors also wrote that Steele created a wedge between employees and the German ownership. I think this type of lifestyle is a lost art. Steele was employed at the company in 1999 and was promoted to chief executive officer in 2015, court documents say. Thats kind of the plans for that. Goewey said he looked at the property when it was for sale seven or eight years ago before the Steeles bought and remodeled the cabin, farmhouse and barn. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Me and Stacy have been looking for a working farm for the past year and a half to two years to invest in together. The former CEO has been charged with embezzling more than $15 . Carter described the barn as shabby chic. The barn has two white brick silos near the entrance, both more than two stories tall. . Donna Steele enters the federal courthouse in Charlotte on Thursday afternoon. She also had four charges for worthless checks in Yadkin County that year. She had been living at that address since December 2007. She transferred more than $350,000 of embezzled money to the family company. The former CEO of a company in Hickory who is accused of stealing more than $15 million was sentenced to eight years in prison Thursday. A colleague came for a visit recently. We build and install lighted signs.. Tigra was founded in Germany in 1983 by Harald Feld and Helge Motzer, the companys website says. Britt Perkins is Jacks son. Goeweys mother-in-law Kerrie Carter, Goeweys wife Lindsey Goewey and Austins wife Janet Austin will be hosting events on the property through their company, Ellendale Events. We learned an unknown amount of jewelry was turned over the federal officials. Former CEO charged with embezzling $15 million from Hickory company has Free Tools ; Leads by Industry ; Top Profiles . Steele was hired at AdSign Corporation in October 1994 as an office manager. Former CEO pleads guilty to embezzling more than $15M to fund lavish lifestyle. Steeles attorney, Christopher Fialko, had not responded to a request for comment on the letters as of 2 p.m. Thursday. Donna Steele lives in West Jefferson, NC; previous city include Hickory NC. The farm is roughly 72 acres and was purchased by Ellendale Farms LLC for $1.5 million in January. Two men and two teens have been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 17-year-old seriously injured Tuesday afternoon. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. You have permission to edit this article. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. You can cancel at any time. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. A Taylorsville woman, charged in a wire fraud embezzlement scheme worth millions, has accepted a plea deal. Motzer said he has since taken over as TIGRA USAs acting CEO. I remember her as being very outgoing and assertive, like she was going to get things done. She needs to go away for a long time.. We have chickens. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Carter wrote to the judge handling Steele's embezzlement case saying: "Ms. Steele . Court documents say the embezzlement was discovered after vendors began withholding products from TIGRA because of nonpayment or late payments, customers complaining about being placed on credit holds, employees having their company credit cards declined, and employees not being paid on time. In letters posted in Steeles case file this week, three current TIGRA employees who worked at the company during Steeles tenure made it clear to Judge Kenneth Bell they believe Steele deserves a harsh penalty. Former Hickory CEO sentenced to 8 years in prison in $15M embezzlement The defrauded party in this case is TIGRA USA, a German-based company with a location in Hickory where Steele worked for more than 20 years and served at one time as CEO. Reporter Dave Faherty has closely followed every development in Steeles case and was in court Wednesday morning when she addressed the judge, apologizing while fighting back tears. Email: kgriffin@hickoryrecord.com. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Federal court documents indicated Steele defrauded an unnamed Hickory company of $15 million through credit card charges, checks, QuickBooks transactions and wire transactions from 2013 through January 2020. St, Hickory, NC. Former Chief Executive Officer Pleads Guilty To Embezzling More Than Kasie Mooneyham, Kyle Chapman and Sarah Holm presented a damning portrait of Steele as a master manipulator and habitual liar who created an environment of perpetual paranoia and anxiety.. The attorneys said that TIGRAs work environment was one where drinking was a big part of the culture and executives would hold meetings at a nude spa in Germany and subject Steele to sexual innuendo. Assets like this wedding venue in Alexander County, where Seth Couch planned on being married in May. Steele would blame the pay and cash flow irregularities on the companys German owners while also isolating her fellow employees from the owners, instructing them not to communicate with the ownership and to include her in the communications with the ownership, according to the employees. She also siphoned off money from the company to support her side businesses. When credit card companies reached out to Steele about suspicious transactions, she would respond saying the transactions were approved, the documents said. Former CEO to pay full restitution in $15M embezzlement scheme. The filing status is listed as Admin. The three employees pointed to signs of trouble at the company during Steeles tenure. Shes very slick. Perkins is the current owner of AdSign Corporation in Winston-Salem. He said she used the money to purchase a house, cars, extravagant trips and a Jet Ski. The phone number for Donna is (828) 322-3512 (Central Tel Co of North Carolina). Please subscribe to keep reading. Being in this room, Im picturing a bride standing there saying their vows, Carter said. Please subscribe to keep reading. Holm wrote that she was hired at age 23 and that working under Steele had a detrimental and lasting impact on both my mental and emotional health. She recalled being bombarded by angry customers unhappy with the service from the company and having to work overtime to satisfy those customers. 2 min read. Donna O Steele, 54 - West Jefferson, NC - Has Court or Arrest Records Steele pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Once Steele was fired, the company no longer had inventory problems, company credit cards were not declined and there were no longer issues with employee payroll and insurance, according to the documents. Ellendale Events co-owner Kerrie Carter explains what she loves about the property that was formerly known as Steeles Farms. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He has horses. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Steele faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Hickory, NC. Hickory fiber optic manufacturer CommScope was the victim of a ransomware attack in late March, the company confirmed in a statement Tuesday. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Former Hickory CEO to be sentenced in $15M embezzlement scheme. WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), RELATED: Former NC CEO accused of embezzling $15 million accepts plea deal, Fisherman pulls massive catfish out of Lake Norman, City worker killed in accidental fire at home, Charlotte Fire says, 3-year construction project on NCs Blue Ridge Parkway begins, Cornelius police officer resigns after arrest, officials say, Man accused in NC deputys shooting death escapes jail, deputies say, WSOC - TV Public File Contact / Program Director, WAXN - TV Public File Contact / Program Director. Donna Steele pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15 million from a Hickory business over seven years. Steele worked there in 1994-95 when Jack Perkins was the owner. Steele was released on bond following the court hearing, and she left the courthouse with her attorney. They noted the company hired and promoted Steele despite her lack of education and the fact she was on supervised release after serving a federal prison sentence for personally cashing checks from another business. Steele appeared in front of a federal judge in Charlotte to learn her sentencing. She was fired from the company on Jan. 28, 2020. 2. Before Donna Osowitt Steele was charged with embezzling $15 million from TIGRA USA in Hickory, she pleaded guilty to embezzling from a family business in Winston-Salem in 1995. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter - hickoryrecord.com She allegedly charged approximately $255,000 for stays at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, more than $500,000 for jewelry, over $200,000 for family wedding expenses and more than $100,000 for flowers.
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