Downtown Hickory NC. 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. Two men and two teens have been charged in connection with a shooting that left a 17-year-old seriously injured Tuesday afternoon. You can cancel at any time. Donna Steele | ZoomInfo Seeing someone come in town and do good things in town, we were all kind of excited. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Use (828) 322-3512 to contact Donna with caution. Well have a working farm. Alexander County woman expected to plead guilty in $15M - News Steele, 52, is accused of embezzling $15 million from 2013 until 2020 from her employer, Tigra, in Hickory where she worked as CEO. 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. 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. View their profile including current address, phone number 828-322-XXXX, background check reports, and property record on Whitepages, the most trusted online directory. Steele was also charged with fraudulent rental of motor vehicle in April of 1995, according to court documents. 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).. Past Addresses: Hickory NC, Kannapolis NC +11 more. The Associated Press contributed to this article. He said the embezzlement nearly bankrupted the company, and that it is still stuck with millions in debt. And she was believable, Britt Perkins said. Steele, 52, of Taylorsville will be sentenced at a later date, Judge David. Donna Steele lives at 1260 6th N.W. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. Donna O Steele, Age 54. aka Donna M Brendleosowitt, Donna M Kelley, Donna M Osowitt. Steele, who is from Taylorsville, previously served as the CEO of TIGRA USA in Hickory, an American branch of a German-based tool company. Carter said she is trying to locate patrons of the previous owners to try to reschedule their events. She was fired from the company on Jan. 28, 2020. Donna O Steele is listed as a Vice President with Steele's luxury real estate, inc. in North Carolina. Jack Perkins died in May 2021. Mooneyham, Chapman and Holm described a work environment where employees were demeaned and turned against one another. She just got really greedy really quickly, Perkins said. She transferred more than $350,000 of embezzled money to the family company. He paid more than $3,000, only to find out the business had suddenly closed earlier in 2022. Frey said Steele does not plan to comment on the case as of Wednesday and said Steele might have a statement at a later date. Opulence by Steele was a high-end clothing and furniture boutique Steele founded in 2013. He said after several phone calls, he was able to get his money back, but the new property owner, Kerrie Carter, told Channel 9 that Steele has not reimbursed all of the brides. Former CEO pleads guilty to embezzling more than $15M to fund lavish 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. In 2000, the company founded the daughter company, Tigra USA, in West Jefferson, North Carolina. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, in a press release. 1100 11th Ave. Blvd. Bernd Motzer confirmed the unnamed company is USA Tigra. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. The address on file for this person is 178 North Shore Dr, Hickory, NC 28601 in Catawba County. 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. Cayer gave her a $25,000 unsecured bond and ordered that she surrender her passport. Hickory, NC. 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. We have chickens. Steele joined the company in 1999 and was serving as its CEO when she was fired in January 2020. This week, Judge Kenneth Bell signed off on an agreement between Donna Steele and federal prosecutors for early prepayment. {{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'. Federal defendant Donna Steele, right, escorted by attorney Ronald Frey gets into a vehicle at the federal courthouse in Charlotte in January after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $15 million while employed by TIGRA USA in Hickory. There was a problem saving your notification. Please subscribe to keep reading. Bernd Motzer, the owner Tigra, spoke at the sentencing, noting the company almost went under due to the accused actions of Steele. Im very sorry, Steele said softly as she wept. Tigra is a manufacturing company that makes cutting materials for tools. It was a slap on the wrist, he 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. Steeles attorney, Christopher Fialko, had not responded to a request for comment on the letters as of 2 p.m. Thursday. She is expected to formally accept the plea agreement in Charlotte, Bantavani said. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Thats where the names came from.. 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. The owners say the farmhouse on the property will eventually be a rental option as part of wedding packages. Goewey said he also wants the farm to be used as an educational tool. A man was arrested on an attempted rape charge thanks to the quick action of a local businessman and his friend. (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. 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. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. A man was arrested on an attempted rape charge thanks to the quick action of a local businessman and his friend. It is not clear how much Steele has paid or intends to pay early or what assets she will sell to make those payments. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Steele plans to liquidate some of her assets to make the payments. West Jefferson, NC. The company is a North Carolina Domestic Business Corporation, which was filed on March 12, 2015. Steele sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement Steele pleads guilty to embezzling $15 million from Hickory company Defendant has had a mental breakdown and is unable to communicate with her attorney. You have permission to edit this article. (WSOC). Former Hickory CEO Steele sentenced to 8 years in prison, ordered to