Donna Osowitt Steele. Steele, 52, of Taylorsville will be sentenced at a later date, Judge David. There was a problem saving your notification. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Steele pleaded guilty to the charges on Aug. 1, 1995. Authorities believed she used money to also fund family businesses that were located in Alexander County, north of Hickory. Phone Number: (828) 322- CGIL +14 phones. She agreed to start early repayment in March. The store was operated by Steele and her family and once had a Hickory address, according to the stores Facebook page. It was said in court that TIGRA is looking for more than $16 million in restitution. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 'We were all pawns in Donna's game:' Employees blast embezzling former CEO in letters to judge. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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. Court documents said she used the money to pay for her lavish . Donna Osowitt Steele, 53, received her sentence Thursday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Charlotte. 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. Online court records dont list an attorney for her or a date for an initial court appearance. 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. I remember her as being very outgoing and assertive, like she was going to get things done. Email Address: s XBCM @yahoo.com. Donna O Steele, (828) 322-3512, Hickory Public Records Instantly The address on file for this person is 178 North Shore Dr, Hickory, NC 28601 in Catawba County. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). You have permission to edit this article. Please subscribe to keep reading. Former NC CEO accused of embezzling $15 million to fund - WWAYTV3 Federal defendant Donna Steele, right, escorted by attorney Ronald Frey arrives at the federal courthouse in Charlotte on Wednesday morning to face wire fraud charges. Thats where the names came from.. In 2000, the company founded the daughter company, Tigra USA, in West Jefferson, North Carolina. . Donna Osowitt Steele is accused of embezzling more than $15 million from her employer, Tigra, in Hickory between 2013 and 2020. I was like, Gosh, that sounds really cool. It sounds cool, Carter said. Alexander County woman expected to plead guilty in $15M embezzlement case. A Taylorsville property, once home to The Nest wedding venue at Steeles Farms, has new owners. 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. 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. She was fired from the company on Jan. 28, 2020. Donna Steele was charged with embezzlement while living in Winston-Salem and arrested on Sept. 6, 1990. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Ellendale is a rural community in Alexander County and the community volunteer fire department sits beside the farm. Kevin Griffin is the City of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record. Please subscribe to keep reading. Shes very slick. Perkins is the current owner of AdSign Corporation in Winston-Salem. They have also lived in Taylorsville, NC and Cumming, GA. Donna is related to Elliott David Osowitt and Jordan Osowitt as well as 3 additional people. In pushing for a relatively lenient sentence, Steeles attorneys argued that her mental health challenges, particularly a desire to buy love as a result of an abusive childhood, contributed to her embezzlement. Donna Osowitt Steele of Taylorsville is accused of embezzling over $15 million from her employer Tigra, in Hickory, between 2013 and 2020. 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. Steele moved into these houses in September 2016, but she had previously lived at 586 Cherry Ave, West Jefferson NC 28694. Being remorseful, in our opinion, would start with a check, TIGRA CEO Bernd Motzer, who came from Germany to speak to the court, said. 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. Carter and Goewey said their desire to serve comes from decades spent in the hospitality industry. After pleading guilty, Channel 9 now knows that as part of her plea agreement, Steele has agreed to pay full restitution in the embezzlement case and is liquidating her assets, according to court documents. Email: kgriffin@hickoryrecord.com. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Bernd Motzer, the owner Tigra, spoke at the sentencing, noting the company almost went under due to the accused actions of Steele. The company is a North Carolina Domestic Business Corporation, which was filed on March 12, 2015. Donna is related to Elliott David Osowitt and Jordan Osowitt as well as 3 additional people. No one had any idea where she was getting the money or how, Brandon Cox said. Steeles attorney, Christopher Fialko, had not responded to a request for comment on the letters as of 2 p.m. Thursday. Steele worked at TIGRA USA in Hickory from 1999 to January 2020. [ALSO READ: Former high school booster club treasurer accused of embezzlement]. Former CEO to pay full restitution in $15M embezzlement scheme - Yahoo News Perkins said his father started the business in 1973. Past Addresses: Hickory NC, Kannapolis NC +11 more. Jack Perkins died in May 2021. We are gratified that justice is being done, Motzer, the president of the company, said in an email. Two men and two teens have been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 17-year-old seriously injured Tuesday afternoon. 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. Reporter Dave Faherty went into Tigra in December and workers said there are about 10,000 employees who work there. Weve looked at several properties. CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Donna Osowitt Steele, 52, of Taylorsville, N.C., appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer today and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, for embezzling more than $15 million from her former employer, announced Dena J. Former CEO to pay full restitution in $15M embezzlement scheme 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. Steele has shown no remorse to or sentiment to what she has done to brides and their families for their special and memorable day., A wedding planner also wrote to the judge about Steele, claiming: She tried to scam my bride out of about $2,000 worth of furniture the bride had wanted to rent from a third party (Julie Vega, Wedding Planner).. You can cancel at any time. A man was arrested on an attempted rape charge thanks to the quick action of a local businessman and his friend. 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 . 1100 11th Ave. Blvd. 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. Former CEO pleads guilty to embezzling more than $15M to fund lavish lifestyle. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 2. Donna Osowitt Steele is accused of embezzling more than $15 million from her employer, Tigra, in Hickory between 2013 and 2020, according to court documents. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Anchors Landing - Lake Home. 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.. Two men and two teens have been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 17-year-old seriously injured Tuesday afternoon. Extra police have been stationed at Alexander Central High School following a phone call on Thursday. Federal defendant Donna Steele arrives at the federal courthouse in Charlotte for sentencing on embezzlement charges in November. Donna W Steele in Taylorsville, NC - Address & Phone Number - Whitepages 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. 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. 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. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Vento of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case. Use (828) 322-3512 to contact Donna with caution. . A Taylorsville woman has been charged with a wire fraud embezzlement scheme. 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. Email: kgriffin@hickoryrecord.com. Hickory Daily Record city reporter The Brookford Police Department will be making a second appearance on the TV show On Patrol: Live this weekend. Taylorsville Woman Accused Of Embezzlement - WACB 860AM Carter described the barn as shabby chic. The barn has two white brick silos near the entrance, both more than two stories tall. Steele, 52, is accused of embezzling $15 million from 2013 until 2020 from her employer, Tigra, in Hickory where she worked as CEO. Steele was employed at the company in 1999 and was promoted to chief executive officer in 2015, federal court documents say. NC company CEO allegedly embezzled $15 million, feds say | Raleigh News A colleague came for a visit recently. The main room has a large wooden cross in the center of the back wall and is lit by chandeliers hanging from the tall ceiling. 36. I was just shocked because usually in a small town you hear of something that big, Heather Cox said. Well have a working farm. Steele sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Kevin Griffin is the city of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record. In 1994, she had 20 charges for worthless checks as well as two forgery charges in Forsyth. Whether its raising two chickens, gardening or whatever. Custom Lake Front New Build. She transferred more than $350,000 of embezzled money to the family company. Court documents reveal Donna Steele took more than $15 million from a business in Hickory. You can cancel at any time. Company president Bernd Motzer confirmed the unnamed company is TIGRA USA. You can cancel at any time. Steele had not appeared before a judge to accept the plea deal as of Wednesday. Even a billboard with the Steele name on it is now available after her wedding venue down the road was sold. That girl, shes evil, Britt Perkins said. It will be a working farm. This is a business registration address for Roundroom. He has horses. There was a problem saving your notification. Donna Osowitt Steele admitted Wednesday to embezzling more than $15 million from a company in Hickory where she was once CEO. Among those arguing for a harsher sentence were employees who worked under Steele, one of whom wrote, We were all pawns in Donnas game.. She didnt say a word as Channel 9 tried asking her about the embezzlement as she walked into the federal courthouse. Steele joined the company in 1999 and was serving as its CEO when she was fired in January 2020. Former CEO to pay full restitution in $15M embezzlement scheme. 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. We were so blown away with what she did to us, Perkins said. Steele, who is from Taylorsville, previously served as the CEO of TIGRA USA in Hickory, an American branch of a German-based tool company. 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. It is not clear how much Steele has paid or intends to pay early or what assets she will sell to make those payments. Steele, who lives in Alexander County, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Charlotte on Wednesday. Former Hickory CEO Steele sentenced to 8 years in prison, ordered to pay $17 million in restitution. We learned an unknown amount of jewelry was turned over the federal officials. Donna Steele | ZoomInfo Carter wrote to the judge handling Steele's embezzlement case saying: "Ms. Steele . There was a problem saving your notification. We have chickens. We build and install lighted signs.. Steele is undergoing treatment for her mental health problems, according to a letter from a therapist. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. There is a large white barn on the property that serves as an event venue. Two men and two teens have been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 17-year-old seriously injured Tuesday afternoon. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Steele pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 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West Jefferson, NC. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 2 min read. She was ordered to pay $270,131.89 in restitution. The Associated Press contributed to this article. You have permission to edit this article. You have permission to edit this article. Defendant has had a mental breakdown and is unable to communicate with her attorney. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 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. Former NC CEO accused of embezzling $15 million accepts plea deal 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The court documents state that Steele was suffering from a mental condition that was insufficient to constitute a defense but significantly reduced the defendants capability.
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