You have permission to edit this article. No one had any idea where she was getting the money or how, Brandon Cox said. 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. Kevin Griffin is the City of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. We learned an unknown amount of jewelry was turned over the federal officials. 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. [ALSO READ: Former high school booster club treasurer accused of embezzlement]. Carter said she was speechless the first time she came down the driveway to the barn venue. Opulence by Steele was a high-end clothing and furniture boutique Steele founded in 2013. 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 . 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. 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. Two other letters, also critical of Steele, were submitted for the courts consideration in March. Prosecutors argued in a sentencing memo that Steele went to great lengths to disguise her illicit activity by opening accounts in the companys name without the owners knowledge and pushing through transactions after they had been flagged as potentially inappropriate. Email: kgriffin@hickoryrecord.com. Email: kgriffin@hickoryrecord.com. Weve looked at several properties. He has horses. 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. 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. 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. You can cancel at any time. The Brookford Police Department will be making a second appearance on the TV show On Patrol: Live this weekend. 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. Being in this room, Im picturing a bride standing there saying their vows, Carter said. Donna Steele pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15 million from a Hickory business over seven years. In 1993, she faced eight worthless check charges in Forsyth County, according to the county court records. 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. In 2000, the company founded the daughter company, Tigra USA, in West Jefferson, North Carolina. Email Address: s XBCM @yahoo.com. 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. (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 was ordered to surrender her passport and will be sentenced at a later date. 75. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. Steele also used stolen money to fund personal businesses run by her family. Assets like this wedding venue in Alexander County, where Seth Couch planned on being married in May. The memo said she blamed the owners for financial irregularities such as lapses in health insurance coverage and late paychecks. Custom Lake Front New Build. 2. Select this result to view Donna M Steele's phone number, address, and more. We were all pawns in Donnas game.. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Please subscribe to keep reading. Steele pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court in Charlotte. Secretary at Tigra Usa INC is presently Donna's occupation. Eventually, the plan is for people or organizations hosting Christmas parties and other events to rent the entire venue, Goewey said. A man was arrested on an attempted rape charge thanks to the quick action of a local businessman and his friend. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The Associated Press contributed to this article. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Goewey said he began working for Chick-fil-A at age 15. View Donna Steele's business profile as President at TIGRA. Authorities believed she used money to also fund family businesses that were located in Alexander County, north of Hickory. 2023 Cox Media Group. It was said in court that TIGRA is looking for more than $16 million in restitution. She was fired from the company on Jan. 28, 2020. Prosecutors also wrote that Steele created a wedge between employees and the German ownership. Steele plans to liquidate some of her assets to make the payments. She used the misappropriated funds for lavish personal purchases and a side business. WSOC TV facebook feed(Opens a new window), PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Former CEO pleads guilty to embezzling more than $15M to fund lavish lifestyle, 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, 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. Those writing in support of Steele included her family members and representatives of a prison ministry Steele has worked with. No other details have been released at this point. Steele was employed at the company in 1999 and was promoted to chief executive officer in 2015, federal court documents say. Ellendale is a rural community in Alexander County and the community volunteer fire department sits beside the farm. The judge also ordered that she pay 10 percent of the restitution the day of her sentencing. 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(renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Whether its raising two chickens, gardening or whatever. 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. Were going to keep bees for honey, local honey. Mooneyham, Chapman and Holm described a work environment where employees were demeaned and turned against one another. Two men and two teens have been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 17-year-old seriously injured Tuesday afternoon. Steele pleads guilty to embezzling $15 million from Hickory company; she will be sentenced at a later date. Reporter Dave Faherty went into Tigra in December and workers said there are about 10,000 employees who work there. The best result we found for your search is Donna M Steele age 50s in Hickory, NC. Hickory fiber optic manufacturer CommScope was the victim of a ransomware attack in late March, the company confirmed in a statement Tuesday. She transferred more than $350,000 of embezzled money to the family company. Steele is expected to appear in court on Jan. 12 to formally accept the deal. Steele embezzled the money from at least 2013 to January 2020 when she was fired from the company. 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 . She claimed her parents were very wealthy and that was how she could afford all of the stuff she did, he said. 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 newsletter to keep reading. NC 28681 (828) 632-4621 . 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. 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.. There was a problem saving your notification. The documents say she used stolen money to fund an extravagant lifestyle and a personal business, Opulence by Steele, in Taylorsville. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. . 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. A former Hickory CEO is set to spend eight years in federal prison for embezzling more than $15 million from the company she once headed. Goewey said he also wants the farm to be used as an educational tool. 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. Select this result to view Donna M Steele's phone number, address, and more. Carter wrote to the judge handling Steele's embezzlement case saying: "Ms. Steele . 36. Steele did not answer any of Channel 9s questions as she headed into the courtroom. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Standing before Bell, Steele said: I am completely broken by my actions, my choice and my past. Steele was joined in the courtroom by four rows of family and friends. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. 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. I was just shocked because usually in a small town you hear of something that big, Heather Cox said. She also had four charges for worthless checks in Yadkin County that year. Carter described the barn as shabby chic. The barn has two white brick silos near the entrance, both more than two stories tall. 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. A colleague came for a visit recently. 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. 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. Downtown Hickory NC. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Vento of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte, is prosecuting the case. 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. Tigra is a manufacturing company that makes cutting materials for tools. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. You can cancel at any time. 2. 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 former CEO has been charged with embezzling more than $15 . 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. He would have been floored if he heard this (the latest charges). The inside of the barn is completely white. He admits it was a difficult time for his bride-to-be. Among those arguing for a harsher sentence were employees who worked under Steele, one of whom wrote, We were all pawns in Donnas game.. 2023 Cox Media Group. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. You look at what she did to him, maybe he wouldnt have been that shocked.. 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. A man was arrested on an attempted rape charge thanks to the quick action of a local businessman and his friend. Please subscribe to keep reading. Shes very slick. Perkins is the current owner of AdSign Corporation in Winston-Salem. The three employees pointed to signs of trouble at the company during Steeles tenure. When credit card companies reached out to Steele about suspicious transactions, she would respond saying the transactions were approved, the documents say. He said she used the money to purchase a house, cars, extravagant trips and a Jet Ski. 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. According to Forsyth County court documents, Steele embezzled money at AdSign from Oct. 10, 1994 to March 31, 1995. Steele, who lives in Alexander County, is scheduled to appear in federal court in Charlotte on Wednesday. Donna Steele quickly understood our style and truly made our vision a reality. The Brookford Police Department will be making a second appearance on the TV show On Patrol: Live this weekend. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Perkins said his father started the business in 1973. It was a slap on the wrist, he said. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Steele was also charged with fraudulent rental of motor vehicle in April of 1995, according to court documents. Steeles attorney Ronald Frey said to the judge that Steele has been cooperative with investigators. Donna is related to Elliott David Osowitt and Jordan Osowitt as well as 3 additional people. (WSOC). This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. She used some of the money to pay for her lavish lifestyle and family businesses. Five new principals were announced during a Catawba County Board of Education meeting on Monday. Donna O Steele, Age 54. aka Donna M Brendleosowitt, Donna M Kelley, Donna M Osowitt. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. 2 min read. In handing down the sentence, Bell dismissed Steeles bid for leniency as excuse-making and said he doubted she was truly remorseful for her actions. 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 property was previously owned by Timothy and Donna Steele. Hickory fiber optic manufacturer CommScope was the victim of a ransomware attack in late March, the company confirmed in a statement Tuesday. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Former NC CEO accused of embezzling $15 million accepts plea deal. Detailed court records of the case have since been destroyed, but a summary of the case was available at the Forsyth County Courthouse. Donna Osowitt Steele admitted Wednesday to embezzling more than $15 million from a company in Hickory where she was once CEO. 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. Past Addresses: Hickory NC, Kannapolis NC +11 more. In 1994, she had 20 charges for worthless checks as well as two forgery charges in Forsyth. There was a problem saving your notification. 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 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. Documents say Steele transferred more than $350,000 of embezzled money to the family company. Donna M Steele, age 50s, lives in Hickory, NC. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. This is not the first time Steele has faced criminal charges. The former CEO has been charged with embezzling more than $15 million from her employer and using stolen money to pay for a lavish lifestyle, including travel, jewelry and family weddings, according to the courts. Well have a working farm. Phone Number: (828) 322- CGIL +14 phones. The store was operated by Steele and her family and once had a Hickory address, according to the stores Facebook page. Carter wrote to the judge handling Steeles embezzlement case saying: Ms. . 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. You have permission to edit this article. Dissolved. Free Tools ; Leads by Industry ; Top Profiles . The glass doors, at the back of the main room, lead out onto a large white deck where receptions can be held. 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. 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. She just got really greedy really quickly, Perkins said. A former Hickory CEO is set to spend eight years in federal prison for embezzling more than $15 million from the company she once headed. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Hickory, NC. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. The Brookford Police Department will be making a second appearance on the TV show On Patrol: Live this weekend. Steele pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $15 million from Tigra for over seven years, according to federal documents. Donna O Steele is listed as a Vice President with Steele's luxury real estate, inc. in North Carolina. You can cancel at any time. Me and Stacy have been looking for a working farm for the past year and a half to two years to invest in together. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Taylorsville resident Donna Osowitt Steele also illegally spent $1 million on travel, $200,000 on family weddings, $100,000 on . You have permission to edit this article. 1. The best result we found for your search is Donna M Steele age 50s in Hickory, NC. Tigra was founded in Germany in 1983 by Harald Feld and Helge Motzer, the companys website says. Hopefully karma is finally going to get her, he said. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. To the left and right of the main room are hallways leading to the dressing rooms for the wedding party. 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. A Hickory man charged in a fatal hit-and-run in Claremont made his first appearance in Catawba County court on Monday. 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