The property was previously owned by Timothy and Donna Steele. (WSOC). You can cancel at any time. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Steeles criminal record goes as far back as 1990 when she was first charged with embezzlement. The best result we found for your search is Donna M Steele age 50s in Hickory, NC. Bernd Motzer, the owner Tigra, spoke at the sentencing, noting the company almost went under due to the accused actions of Steele. He said she used the money to purchase a house, cars, extravagant trips and a Jet Ski. Hickory fiber optic manufacturer CommScope was the victim of a ransomware attack in late March, the company confirmed in a statement Tuesday. Perkins was not satisfied with the sentence Steele received in 1995. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. Defendant has a long history of mental problems and at present cannot assist her attorney in the preparation of her case, a motion filed with court documents on Steeles fraudulent rental of motor vehicle charge in Forsyth County reads. Please subscribe to keep reading. Donna Steele pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15 million from a Hickory business over seven years. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. Donna Steele lives in West Jefferson, NC; previous city include Hickory NC. Steele's Farms property purchased for $1.5 million; new owners plan to use as farm, event venue. Tigra Steele pleaded guilty to a wire fraud embezzlement scheme that involved Tigra, a company based out of Hickory. There was a problem saving your notification. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The inside of the barn is completely white. 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. The Brookford Police Department will be making a second appearance on the TV show On Patrol: Live this weekend. 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 . Steele pleaded guilty to a wire fraud embezzlement scheme that involved Tigra, a company based out of Hickory. Court documents showed Steele spent over half a million on jewelry alone. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Former NC CEO accused of embezzling $15 million accepts plea deal. Donna Steele is 54 years old and was born on 03/08/1969. Steele was employed at the company in 1999 and was promoted to chief executive officer in 2015, court documents say. She agreed to start early repayment in March. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. The name of a woman who confessed to an embezzlement scheme worth millions is now starting to disappear across Taylorsville. There was a problem saving your notification. Being in this room, Im picturing a bride standing there saying their vows, Carter said. Prosecutors also wrote that Steele created a wedge between employees and the German ownership. On Jan. 12, Donna Steele pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15 million dollars from TIGRA USA in Hickory, where she was once CEO, according to court documents. He said the embezzlement nearly bankrupted the company, and that it is still stuck with millions in debt. 1100 11th Ave. Blvd. 1. As of 2 p.m. Thursday, no letters in support of Steele were posted in her case file. Federal defendant Donna Steele arrives at the federal courthouse in Charlotte for sentencing on embezzlement charges in November. Me and Stacy have been looking for a working farm for the past year and a half to two years to invest in together. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The first event Carter has on the books is scheduled for April. View their profile including current address, phone number 828-322-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. ROBERT C. REED, RECORD Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Seth Couch said it took weeks to get his money back. Steele used company credit cards to pay for $6 million in personal expenditures, including high-end retail store purchases, luxury hotel accommodations, event ticket purchases, expensive jewelry, family weddings and purchases related to Opulence by Steele, a luxury clothing and boutique company the defendant founded in 2013, the news release stated. 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 1994, she had 20 charges for worthless checks as well as two forgery charges in Forsyth. Goewey said he also wants the farm to be used as an educational tool. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Carter can be contacted at kerrie@ellendaleevents.com. Donna Steele agrees to early payment in $15 million embezzlement case; she is former CEO of Hickory location of international company. Carter described the barn as shabby chic. The barn has two white brick silos near the entrance, both more than two stories tall. (Facebook photo) A Taylorsville woman accused of embezzling more than $15 million from her employer in Catawba County had been convicted in the past of embezzlement as well. She explained to me that the mail would only confuse them and she would go through them when they left, Mooneyham wrote. She didnt say a word as Channel 9 tried asking her about the embezzlement as she walked into the federal courthouse. [ALSO READ: Former high school booster . 2. 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. TIGRA USA, Inc. , Vice President Mrs. Donna Steele 1106 8th ST CT SE Hickory, NC 28602, USA. Perkins said his father started the business in 1973. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. Eventually, the plan is for people or organizations hosting Christmas parties and other events to rent the entire venue, Goewey said. Hickory fiber optic manufacturer CommScope was the victim of a ransomware attack in late March, the company confirmed in a statement Tuesday. Donna Steele pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15 million from a Hickory business over seven years. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. Goewey said he began working for Chick-fil-A at age 15. The company moved to Hickory in 2008. Weve looked at several properties. From at least 2013 to January 2020 while serving as vice president and later as CEO, Steele used her position to embezzle funds from TIGRA in a number of ways, including through fraudulent company credit card purchases, company checks, Quickbooks transactions and wire transfers, according to the news release. Last week, The Times reported that Donna Osowitt Steele, of Taylorsville, was named as the alleged embezzler of more than $15 million in a Bill of . Steele used some of the money to fund a craving for luxury clothing and accessories, including spending more than $500,000 on jewelry alone and high-end purchases in New York City at stores that included Sephora and Ted Baker. Anchors Landing - Lake Home. Donna Steele arrives Thursday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Charlotte for sentencing on embezzlement charges, Steeles detractors and supporters submitted letters to the court seeking to influence the sentence. I was just shocked because usually in a small town you hear of something that big, Heather Cox said. Steele had earlier agreed to pay restitution. It was said in court that TIGRA is looking for more than $16 million in restitution. A man was arrested on an attempted rape charge thanks to the quick action of a local businessman and his friend. Steele faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The former CEO has been charged with embezzling more than $15 . 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, the documents say. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. According to Forsyth County court documents, Steele embezzled money at AdSign from Oct. 10, 1994 to March 31, 1995. The attorneys also faulted TIGRA. In the past, Donna has also been known as Donna O Steele, Donna Kelley, Donna Brendle Osowitt, Donna M Brendleosowitt and Donna M Kelley. Court docs say the money went towards her lavish lifestyle and to fund a business run by her and her family. Select this result to view Donna M Steele's phone number, address, and more. Please subscribe to keep reading. Donna Osowitt Steele, 53, received her sentence Thursday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Charlotte. Fortunately, (AdSign) caught on to her. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Steele, 52, is accused of embezzling $15 million from 2013 until 2020 from her employer, Tigra, in Hickory where she worked as CEO. 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. You can cancel at any time. Court documents said she used the money to pay for her lavish . But prosecutors said its a subsidiary of a foreign corporation and makes carbide products used in saw blades for the woodworking industry. She pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of larceny. The company owners live overseas, the filing says. That girl, shes evil, Britt Perkins said. Mooneyham also recalled Steele using her own credit card in some cases to pay for charges when the company card was declined. Online court records dont list an attorney for her or a date for an initial court appearance. Carter said she is trying to locate patrons of the previous owners to try to reschedule their events. Perkins said the company was alerted to the embezzlement when the bank informed Jack Perkins about odd activity in the account. Steele, who lives in Alexander County, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Charlotte on Wednesday. Carter and Goewey said their desire to serve comes from decades spent in the hospitality industry. Today, he is the owner of the Chick-fil-A restaurant on U.S. 70 in Hickory, he said. She is expected to formally accept the plea agreement in Charlotte, Bantavani said. She added: I never questioned her about this because I trusted her and never thought there was an alternative reason for doing this. Secretary at Tigra Usa INC is presently Donna's occupation. The property was previously owned by Timothy and Donna Steele. You have permission to edit this article. It was a slap on the wrist, he said. Steele, 52, of Taylorsville will be sentenced at a later date, Judge David. Steele also caused 127 fraudulent and unauthorized wire transfers to be executed as Quickbooks transactions, transferring more than $4.7 million from TIGRAs bank accounts to her personal bank account. The Brookford Police Department will be making a second appearance on the TV show On Patrol: Live this weekend. We are not a big company like this company in Hickory were just a small little family business. (WATCH BELOW: Former CEO pleads guilty to embezzling more than $15M to fund lavish lifestyle), Former CEO pleads guilty to embezzling more than $15M to fund lavish lifestyle. She claimed her parents were very wealthy and that was how she could afford all of the stuff she did, he said. 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. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website, Steele was incarcerated from Aug. 1, 1995 until June 28, 1996. 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. Donna Steele quickly understood our style and truly made our vision a reality. Ellendale Events co-owner Kerrie Carter explains what she loves about the property that was formerly known as Steeles Farms. She is currently awaiting sentencing. Bernd Motzer confirmed the unnamed company is USA Tigra. 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. The judge could also consider that in the 1990s, Steele was jailed for her role in another embezzlement case where she was accused of stealing half a million dollars from a family-owned business near Winston-Salem. Steele admitted that, in an effort to hide the fraudulent scheme, she limited communications and interactions between the employees and owners for TIGRA and monitored communications that did occur, she convinced employees that company owners should be feared, and lied to employees about the true nature of TIGRAs financial trouble, according to the news release. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. You can cancel at any time. You look at what she did to him, maybe he wouldnt have been that shocked.. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. SE Hickory, NC 28602 . 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. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Vento of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case. 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. Steele appeared in front of a federal judge in Charlotte to learn her sentencing. West Jefferson, NC. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. St, Hickory, NC. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Employees of a tool company in Hickory condemned their former CEO Donna Steele as a manipulative liar in letters to a federal judge intended to influence sentencing in Steeles embezzlement case. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Van crashes into industrial clinic on Tate Boulevard in Hickory; no serious injuries reported, Hickory fiber optic company suffered ransomware attack in March, Catawba County Schools announces 5 new principals, LOCAL PRO ROUNDUP: Bumgarner released by D-backs after clearing waivers, Comic book store owner's heroic action leads to arrest of man on attempted rape charge in Hickory, Alexander County high school received concerning call; students are safe, additional police responding, Wine, NC beer now available at two more businesses in downtown Newton, Car flips onto roof, one person injured in Hickory crash, New property values in Catawba County are a land and money grab, Hickory man makes court apperance in fatal hit-and-run, 9-year-old, baby remain hospitalized after crash that killed mother, He was born with defective heart; foundation in his memory touched many in Catawba County, Newton-Conover's Garcia signs with Carolina University for soccer, See a clip now: 'Bar Rescue' episode featuring Hickory pub that airs at 10 p.m. on April 23, Board denies book appeal in 4-3 vote; book challenger says policy unclear, 'On Patrol: Live:' Brookford police to appear on TV show again; episodes air Friday, Saturday nights, Update: 2 adults, 2 teens charged in Hickory shooting that injured 17-year-old, Ukrainian soldiers get targeted by rockets while digging trenches near Bakhmut, Scientists launch new study into humans after realizing spiders lose eyesight due to malnutrition, Analysis: Mom and pop safe as First Republic Bank fails, Biden vows banking system is 'safe and sound'. You have permission to edit this article. 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. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former CEO to pay full restitution in $15M embezzlement scheme, Fisherman pulls massive catfish out of Lake Norman, City worker killed in accidental fire at home, Charlotte Fire says, Another homebuyer says Keyo Tiny House didnt do the work, AA pilots picket outside Charlotte Douglas over contract negotiations, 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. 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. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kenneth Bell also ordered Steele to pay nearly $17 million in restitution, and she is required to stay on supervised release for three years following her active sentence. As a result of Steeles embezzlement, TIGRA USA experienced several difficulties, including vendors withholding products from the company for non-payment or late payments, customers complaining about being placed on credit holds, notwithstanding timely payments of their bills, employees having their company credit cards declined when they were trying to use them for legitimate business expenses, employees not being paid on time and employees having their insurance canceled without warning. Steele had not appeared before a judge to accept the plea deal as of Wednesday. She is expected to plead guilty and faces a possible sentence of 20 years in prison, Lia Bantavani with the U.S. Department of Justice said.
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